The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday released bodycam footage in connection with a June 20 incident that shows a Los Angeles County deputy being stabbed by a man identified as Robert Castro in a Lancaster parking lot. 

According to CBS News, deputies responded to a call at around 2 p.m. reporting that Castro had been seen in the 44000 block of Sierra Highway carrying and swinging knives in public. 

The unnamed deputy was taken to a hospital, where his injuries were determined to be non-threatening. 

Authorities said three patrol vehicles responded to the call, a sequence also visible in surveillance footage. Audio released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office captured the caller saying, “I just want to make a report of a guy with some knives, swinging them in public.”

Bodycam footage published by The New York Post on July 29, 2026, showed deputies approaching Castro with their service firearms drawn. Authorities said Castro lunged at one deputy and stabbed him before the deputy fired, striking Castro.

Officials said Castro then continued reaching toward one of the knives, prompting a second deputy to open fire, fatally wounding him. Authorities later confirmed Castro was carrying three knives. 

According to ABC, Castro was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office later announced that it had opened an investigation into the fatal shooting.

The statement said, “Following notification of this incident, DOJ’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team initiated an investigation in accordance with AB1506 mandates.”

It added that once the Department of Justice completes its investigation, its findings will be forwarded to the Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for an independent review.

The release of the footage prompted widespread discussion online, with some questioning Castro’s mental state and others speculating whether he may have been under the influence when deputies confronted him. A user said, “The suspect looks like a demented soul. He looked like he was on drugs.” Another user wrote, “Scary! One of those rare instances when I understand an officer’s desire to shoot!!” A third commented, “Why did he shoot him when knife is not even near him?”

Some netizens also questioned why the second deputy fired after Castro had already been shot once, while others argued that the footage appeared to show him continuing to reach toward one of the knives. 

Disclaimer: Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available.