Homicide Report > Pedro Santa Cruz, 40
Pedro Santa Cruz, 40
Died July 21, 2010
Pedro Santa Cruz, identified by the coroner's office as a 40-year-old white man, was shot and killed by police Wednesday, July 21, near E Street and McDonald Avenue in Wilmington, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
A patrol unit was called to investigate a prowler in the 500 block of McDonald Avenue shortly after midnight, according to an LAPD news release.
When officers arrived at the scene, they saw a man a block away, near E Street and McDonald Avenue, matching the description of the suspected prowler, police said.
As they approached the person, later identified as Pedro Santa Cruz, he turned and began punching one of the officers, police said, and a physical altercation began.
According to the LAPD, the officer's partner, Eric Johnson, who has been with the department for 11 years and 6 months, believed Santa Cruz was stabbing his colleague and fired his gun.
Santa Cruz was struck and taken to Harbor UCLA Medical Center, where he died, police said.
The officer involved in the fight sustained injuries to his head and hand and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
— Sarah Ardalani
- Neighborhood: Wilmington
- Age: 40
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Wednesday
- Agency: LAPD Force Investigation
- Race/Ethnicity: White
- Circumstance: Officer-involved
- Crime scene: Public place
12 reader comments about Pedro Santa Cruz
Wow!! LAPD!! What a story!!
July 29, 2010 at 9:16 a.m.
These cops are so incompetent that they couldn't stop an unarmed man. Again, a cop justifies his killing by saying he thought the unarmed men was stabbing his colleague. Syscom3, I’m already predicting what you’re going to ask me (i.e., did you know a human fist can kill a person?). The cop who pulled the trigger should be charged with MURDER and sent to jail to rot.
Aug. 4, 2010 at 3:28 p.m.
Jag, never start a fight with someone with a gun.
The deceased started it and the police finished it. End of story.
Justified shooting any way you look at it.
Aug. 4, 2010 at 8:54 p.m.
I knew him he was a family member there was no reason for the police to do that the cop should made sure if he was stabbing or not..and why did they take him to a medical canter and took the cop to a hospital that's not righ they should taken him to the hospital too...rip Pedro I'll miss you. He was a really funny nice guy :(
Aug. 11, 2010 at 8:12 p.m.
when I read Santa Cruz, it made me think because Santa Cruz Is my family last name. Then I thoght of the person listed as a WHITE male I let it go...I knew there could be more people with the same last name...But I knew my relative, he was who he was, but he was my relative and yes I did care... sorry to see him leave this....this...??????life the way he did....fists are NEVER a match to a GUN...May God forgive you... R I P Pedrito...You will be missed...tu parienta...
Aug. 14, 2010 at 6:53 p.m.
— Juno.., just what are the police supposed to do when someone is trying to stab them?
Let them do it?
Get real about it. The deceased was trying to kill someone and he had to be stopped.
Aug. 14, 2010 at 10:25 p.m.
Great job LAPD!! I'm glad the good guys went home to their families.
Aug. 15, 2010 at 7:21 p.m.
As a police officer, the weapons I have on my duty belt and on my person are easily accessible by me and by anyone I allow to invade my space. ANY person who attacks a uniformed police officer MUST be considered armed and an immediate deadly threat and will be dealt with accordingly.
Aug. 15, 2010 at 10:13 p.m.
SB3, get real. You exactly know the 99.9% of the population are no danger to police why are you trying to sound tough? Do you get off by it? Your posting makes you sound just like the the gangster and thugs out there.
Aug. 16, 2010 at noon
SB3, it is that tone of yours that makes us abiding citiznes question your competency. I hope your posting stays here for a long time so when you take someone's life it can be used against you.
Aug. 16, 2010 at 12:07 p.m.
Hey MECK why do you say it is a story ? just how do you feel ?.....to me it is a story to clear the act of what ever really happened....Sorry to say only ONE of them will never say a word... I do believe PEDRO was scared because he may have been drinking and he like most people did not wanted to get arrested.... POLICE SUPPORTER....I hope that you feel this way the rest of your life.....We are all humans, yes, even cops....Pedro made a mistake, I belive it is called..RESISTING ARREST... He should still be alive had he fallowed orders by the LAPD !!!! But who kwons how a scared, possibly drunk person thinks.... Let him and all that died the same way get justice by the Lord because no one escapes, that much I know. AMEN
Aug. 16, 2010 at 3:35 p.m.
I dont understand how so many people become victims of police officers because of a mistake on officers behalf. These mistakes are costing the lives of so many loved ones. I was hoping that police officers were supposed to be properly trained for situations were they should use there best judgement. I dont understand how an officer can justify his actions by saying "I thought he was stabing my partner". How do you imagine a knife that was never there.The officer obviously made a mistake, a very serious, fatal mistake.Why didn't he use his tasser or simply open his eyes!This is gone on long enough! We keep hearing new law propositions to put criminals behind bars, how about making these officers pay for there constant deadly mistakes.
Sept. 20, 2010 at 9:23 p.m.
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