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Man armed with sword barricades himself in Los Angeles cutlery store
Published July 04, 2016
A man armed with a sword barricaded himself in a Los Angeles cutlery store, forcing an entire shopping center to be locked down Sunday night.
Los Angeles police Sgt. James Sterling told KTLA that the incident was reported at around 5:15 p.m. at the Japanese Village Plaza Mall. A man walked into the store and armed himself with a sword that was for sale at the store, police said.
"He got into a verbal altercation with a security officer from the complex who asked him to leave the store, at which time he began to exhibit aggressive behavior and signs of mental illness. He began talking to people who weren't there and making some statements that got the manager very concerned," Capt. Donald Graham told KABC-TV.
Authorities said employees and customers bolted the store almost immediately.
When police made contact with the suspect, he began to grab more knives and swords and threatened to harm himself, according to KABC-TV.
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and the LAPD’s Mental Evaluation unit were working together to talk the man into surrendering.
Police refuted reports that the man had taken hostages, and said he was in the store alone by 11 p.m.
No injuries have been reported, officials said.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-armed-with-sword-barricades-himself-in-los-angeles-cutlery-store