LOS ALAMITOS, CA — A chaotic sequence of events spanning two neighboring cities ended in gunfire and a hospital lockdown on Wednesday morning after a road-rage suspect, armed with a large machete, was shot by police outside UCI Health Los Alamitos.
The suspect remains in critical condition following the high-stakes confrontation on Katella Avenue. The incident began shortly after 10:00 a.m. on July 22, 2026 in neighboring Long Beach. According to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), officers initially responded to reports of a suspected DUI driver operating erratically.
The situation quickly escalated into a road-rage dispute when the suspect aggressively targeted a Long Beach Fire Department paramedic vehicle that was actively transporting a patient.
Following a brief pursuit, the suspect pulled over, bailed out of his vehicle, and fled on foot into a commercial area near the 3700 block of Katella Avenue, prompting law enforcement to establish a strict perimeter and dispatch a SWAT team.
The foot pursuit culminated directly outside the UCI Health Los Alamitos medical complex, where the Los Alamitos Police Department took over primary handling of the scene.
Bystander video posted to the Citizen app captured the tense moments, showing a shirtless man wearing sunglasses and shorts pacing outside the medical facility while gripping a large machete. Numerous officers were positioned nearby with weapons drawn.
Los Alamitos PD spokespeople confirmed that officers initially attempted to negotiate a peaceful surrender. When those efforts failed, tactical teams deployed less-than-lethal munitions in an attempt to safely subdue the suspect. However, the less-than-lethal rounds proved ineffective.
"The suspect started to run in the direction of the officers with his machete, and that's when the officers made the decision to fire," stated Los Alamitos PD spokesperson Robert Acosta.
As the armed standoff unfolded, UCI Health Los Alamitos was immediately placed on a secure lockdown to protect staff and patients.
Following the shooting, the suspect was quickly taken into custody and transported inside for immediate medical treatment. No officers, paramedics, or bystanders were injured during the multi-agency incident.
UCI Health released a statement assuring the community that the facility's internal security protocols worked seamlessly:
"Caring for patients is our top priority at UCI Health – Los Alamitos. We are actively monitoring police activity in the area. UCI Health co-workers and patients are safe. Patient care remains uninterrupted."
Katella Avenue near Cherry Street remained closed for several hours as forensic teams mapped the active crime scene. The investigation into the road-rage catalyst and the subsequent officer-involved shooting is ongoing.
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