Jason Charles Davis, 41

July 17, 2015

Jason Charles Davis, a 41-year-old white man, died Wednesday, July 15, two days after he was shot by police in the 600 block of Rose Avenue in Venice, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

On Monday, July 13, two officers from the LAPD’s Pacific Division responded to a 911 call from the Groundwork Coffee Co. in the area, said Sgt. Barry Montgomery.

The caller reported a man with a knife inside the shop, Montgomery said. LAPD officials said in a statement that the caller indicated that the man had “brandished a knife at people in the area.”

Police later identified the man as Davis. When the officers arrived, they found Davis sitting at a patio table with the knife, police said.

They ordered him to drop the weapon, the LAPD said, but he did not follow their commands. Davis then stood up and “began to aggressively approach the officers,” the LAPD statement said.

One officer used a Taser, but police said it didn’t affect Davis and he continued to move toward them with the knife. At least one of the officers then opened fire, police said.

A witness who declined to be identified told The Times that police fired twice at a man who appeared to be homeless. Video of the moments immediately following the shooting was recorded by a bystander and posted on social media.

The video showed a man lying on the ground, slowly waving his hands above his head before officers turned him over and handcuffed him.

Paramedics responded and took the man to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery. Neither the officers nor anyone in the coffee shop was injured.

Police found a “large” box cutter at the scene.

Investigators interviewed “numerous witnesses,” Montgomery said, and were looking for surveillance footage in the area.

In addition to the LAPD's investigation, the shooting also will be reviewed by the L.A. County district attorney's office, the Police Commission and its independent inspector general.

Anyone with information can call the Force Investigation Division at (213) 486-5230.

-- Kate Mather

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One reader comment

There are some inconsistencies in this piece.

"LAPD officials said ...[t]hat the caller indicated that the man had “brandished a knife at people in the area.”

Police respond to a report of a man brandishing a knife, fair enough...

"When the officers arrived, they found Davis sitting at a patio table with the knife"

It seems the caller was correct and Davis indeed had a knife with him...

But after Davis is shot...

"Police found a “large” box cutter at the scene."

So did Davis have a knife or a "large" box cutter?

The article gives the impression police responded to a report of a male brandishing a knife...an altercation ensues, male suspect is shot...searching the scene afterwards police find the reported knife is in fact a box cutter.

If this is the case, "When the officers arrived, they found Davis sitting at a patio table with **the knife**" is incorrect [emphasis mine].

Unless I am missing something it was determined, after the incident, that Davis had a box cutter. So officers could not have seen "the knife" on the table because there was no knife. Perhaps they _thought_ it was a knife but that is quite different than seeing "the knife".

I realize that the statements included in the piece are either direct quotes from the LAPD or based on their statements but it seems to me that reporters need to do more than simply repeat official statements as these often contain inaccuracies or contradictions and present a slanted view of events.

Thanks for reading.

— Citizen5036 Aug. 4, 2015 at 5:49 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Jason Charles Davis, 41

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One reader comment