(L.A.) Jason Maccani, 36, Killed by LAPD for a Plastic Fork in His Hand
Case Number: 2024-02186
Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 36-year-old White/Caucasian male that occurred in a hospital.
The coroner’s office has identified the man as Jason Maccani of Ventura County.
Born in Santa Barbara County, California. Mother’s maiden name is Strassburger.
Manner of Death: Homicide
Cause of Death: Gunshot Wound of the Chest
RIP JASON LEE MACCANI (March 8, 1987 – February 3, 2024)
Formal pronouncement of death was made on Saturday at 3:12 p.m.
The decedent was shot dead by LAPD for carrying a stick white plastic fork. The shooting happened at around at 2:14 p.m. in the 600 block of Towne Avenue, west of South Central Avenue in downtown L.A. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he succumbed to his police-inflicted injury.
* On February 9, the pig who shot him dead was identified as Police Officer I Caleb Garcia-Alamilla, Serial No. 4571, assigned to Central Division.
After LAPD officers shot and killed a man in Skid Row on Saturday, who was allegedly holding a plastic fork, this is what the LAPD spokesperson said to @KTLA:
“Any object can cause harm,” Lt. Ruiz said. “Depending on how it’s used.”https://t.co/nov3qBhC49
— Another Adam Smith (@AdamOfTheSmiths) February 5, 2024
UPDATE: In an updated news release LAPD now says that the man who was shot in Skid Row over the weekend was actually carrying a "white plastic fork" and not a "stick." @LATACO https://t.co/iVOxKSxTJn
— Lexis-Olivier Ray (@ShotOn35mm) February 5, 2024
LAPD Narrative
The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Jason Lee Maccani. Next of kin has been notified.
February 4, 2024
Officer-Involved Shooting in Central Division
The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting that occurred in Central Division.
On February 3, 2024, at 2:14 p.m., Central Division uniformed officers responded to a radio call of an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon,” at the 600 block of Towne Avenue. The comments of the call indicated the suspect was under the influence and armed with a stick threatening employees.
When officers arrived at the location, they met with the Person Reporting (PR). The PR stated the suspect entered the business on the 4th floor of a warehouse, located at the 800 block of East 7th Street and told the PR to leave the location. The PR, who was in fear, left the business and contacted the police. The PR told the officers the suspect had access to sharp items and metal objects inside the business. The PR signed a Private Persons Arrest for Trespass and directed the officers to the 4th floor.
Once on the 4th floor, the officers observed the suspect inside the business and ordered him to exit with his hands up. The suspect initially complied then turned and charged toward the officers with a white object protruding from the bottom of his clenched right hand, which was held at chest level. The officers deployed less lethal toward the suspect, which was ineffective. The suspect continued to advance toward the officers with the object still clenched in his right hand. The suspect grabbed one of the officers and the Beanbag Shotgun she was holding, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting.
The suspect was struck by gunfire and brought to the ground, where he was taken into custody without further incident. The officers rendered aid to the suspect until the arrival of the Los Angeles Fire Department personnel. The suspect was transported by rescue ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The object possessed by the suspect, believed to be a knife, was later determined to be a white plastic fork.
The item was recovered at scene and booked as evidence. No other community members were injured as a result of this incident. A supervisor, who was with the officers when the incident occurred, sustained a laceration to his right hand. The supervisor was treated for his injury at a local hospital and released.
The LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses. Although representatives from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office initially responded to the scene, the Department of Justice investigators from the Office of the California Attorney General, Division of Law Enforcement, ultimately assumed prosecutorial oversight for this incident per Assembly Bill 1506 and collected the evidence.
The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.
The official statement from LAPD now IDs the stick as a fork. Officials would have known it was a fork when they made the initial tweet about the stick. https://t.co/wAutOL0fqt pic.twitter.com/taOw88kDUA
— sahra (@sahrasulaiman) February 5, 2024
Initial News Reports Identifying a Stick
Address of the incident location appears to be 801 East 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021.
https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/801-E-7th-St-Los-Angeles-CA/26277835/
Though Seventh Street is technically the southern border of the area known as Skid Row, it isn’t Skid Row per se. The tent encampments are at least a large block away.
The building is considered an industrial warehouse. Among the commercial tenants on the ground floor is Rebel’s Motorbikes, a repair shop.
Morales Brothers Fashion Inc is a tenant on the fourth floor. Their address is 801 E 7th Street Suite #407.
Cinthia’s Restaurant & Market has also been at this address, on the Towne Avenue side, since 2013. Among the items “Cinthias” is known for are tacos, burritos, and pupusas (pictured below).
The above photo was posted to the eatery’s page on Yelp by “Jason C.” of El Monte on January 19, 2023.
The only run-in with the cops that Jason Maccani ever had before — that we could find — was a 23152(A) DUI back in the year 2005. It was in Ventura County.
He graduated from UCLA with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2011. According to family, he had been suffering from bipolar disorder in recent years.
Jason is survived by his younger siblings Michael and Erika.
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