Fullerton police said Monday that a man they killed last month appeared to have provoked the incident with the intention of committing suicide.
On June 15, police said they received a 911 call urging the department to send multiple officers to a man who was threatening the caller and others with a knife on the Imperial Highway.
When officers arrived, they found a man matching the caller’s description who appeared to be holding two knives, police said.
Police told the man, later identified as Lorenzo Roger Hills III, 27, of Brea, to drop his weapon, but he charged at them with a knife, prompting officers to shoot him. .
On Monday, police said they found two knives and a mobile phone. After investigation, police said the phone was registered to Hills and was the same phone used to make the original 911 call.
“Mr. Hills is believed to have intentionally caused a fatal police confrontation, often referred to as a ‘suicide by cop,'” the department said.
Police released body camera video Monday showing Hills running toward officers who shot him before he could get close to them.
Police also released a recording of a 911 call in which the caller’s name was Antonio. After the caller reported a mentally ill man brandishing a knife, the dispatcher told the caller she would remain in contact with him until police arrived.
The caller responded that he might have to leave, but did not leave after the dispatcher told him he had to keep calling so police knew exactly where the man with the knife was.
Before police arrived, the caller said, “My phone is off…” and the line went dead.
Suicide Prevention and Crisis Counseling Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek professional help and call 9-8-8. The nation’s first national three-digit mental health crisis hotline, 988, will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. In the United States and Canada, text “HOME” to 741741 to call the crisis text hotline.
