Man With Knife Killed by Officer After Attack
LA PALMA — A man who stabbed his girlfriend and his friend inside his house was shot and killed by a police officer after he refused to put his weapon down, police said Monday.
The officer shot Bryan Baum, 21, in a rear bedroom in a house on Bransford Drive, where he lived with his parents and the male victim, said Sgt. Mark Yokoyama.
Police said Baum stabbed his girlfriend Stacey Newton, 21, of La Palma, in the upper body. He then reportedly picked a fight with Kevin Thompson, 20, who lived with Baum.
“We don’t know what started this whole thing, but it wasn’t a lovers’ triangle,†Yokoyama said. “We’ve asked, and Kevin said he doesn’t know why he was being stabbed.â€
Details of the 1:15 p.m. shooting remained sketchy, Yokoyama said, but the officer who fired said Baum ignored his orders to drop the knife and continued stabbing Thompson.
“Both officers who were inside the residence told Bryan to put down his weapon,†Yokoyama said.
Police did not identify the officer but said he has worked for the department for nearly 15 years.
Paramedics treated Thompson at the scene for superficial wounds. Newton was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where she was in stable condition.
Neighbors said Baum had a history of frequently fighting with his girlfriend.
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