LAPD video shows suspect shot, killed by police was holding plastic fork

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles Police Department has released body camera video that shows the moments before a man, who approached officers while holding what turned out to be a plastic fork, was fatally shot.

The incident happened Feb. 3 off Towne Avenue near the Skid Row area. Officers responded to the area after receiving a call of a man who was possibly intoxicated and was reportedly threatening employees with a stick at a manufacturing business.

Authorities say the suspect, 36-year-old Jason Maccani, was holding what they say appeared to be a knife or screwdriver and avoided verbal commands as he advanced towards officers.

Police responded to a call of a man who was possibly intoxicated and was reportedly threatening employees with a stick at a manufacturing business.

He was first shot with less-lethal foam pellets and bean bag rounds. When those appeared to not work, an officer opened fire and struck him.

The object believed to be a knife turned out to be a white plastic fork.

Maccani was taken to a hospital where he later died.

The officer-involved shooting has drawn public criticism at a recent LAPD police commission meeting.

LAPD released the video on its YouTube Channel, along with the 911 call that reported Maccani had broken into the downtown L.A. building.

Tommy Tunson, a former police chief who now teaches criminal justice at Bakersfield College, says the shooting is another example of how quickly a dangerous situation can develop and how little time officers have to react.

"There really is milliseconds for you to respond and you want to respond the right way, so that you and others in the area are all safe," Tunson said.

The LAPD Force Investigation Division is investigating the shooting, as is the California attorney general's office.