Ax-Wielding Man Is Shot by Police
Los Angeles police officers shot and wounded an ax-wielding Woodland Hills man Saturday who first sprayed mace at the officers and then ignored repeated warnings not to approach them, authorities said.
Brian Rosenberg, 30, is described by police as a man with a long history of emotional problems.
“He always made people uncomfortable when he was a teen-ager,” said Pat House, a resident in the neighborhood for more than 20 years.
Police were called to Rosenberg’s home by a minister who is a friend of the family, Lt. Bill Hall said. The minister told police the man was threatening people in his house.
When two officers responded to the call, Rosenberg was upstairs in the house.
They tried to coax him down, Hall said, but when he appeared at the top of the stairs he sprayed mace toward the officers. He was carrying an ax, a meat cleaver and a carving fork.
When Rosenberg did not heed warnings to stop approaching the police, Hall said, each officer fired once, hitting Rosenberg in the stomach and leg.
Rosenberg was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center. He is expected to survive the shooting, Hall said.
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