Man Seen Cutting Own Throat in Naples Hospitalized Following Officer-Involved Shooting

LONG BEACH, CA -- A possibly intoxicated man was shot and wounded by Long Beach police after he cut his own throat with a knife and then raised the weapon toward them when they ordered him to surrender, authorities said Friday.

The shooting occurred after officers were sent to the 100 block of The Colonnade Canal, in the Naples area of the city, about 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

Richard Everhart, 25, of Lakewood was hospitalized in critical but stable condition, police said. No officers were hurt.

According to police, a person called authorities and said a man who appeared intoxicated was trying to enter the caller's home through a front door. Officers went to speak with the resident and spotted the man walking down the sidewalk.

"Officers called to the man to stop so they could investigate why he tried to enter the caller's home. However, he ignored them and kept walking," according to a police statement.

"As the officers followed him, he suddenly stopped, turned around and drew a knife to his own throat and began cutting it repeatedly while advancing on the officers," police said.

The officers ordered him to drop the knife and prepared to use "intermediate force options."

"Before the officers could deploy any device, and as they continued to direct the suspect to drop the knife and surrender, the suspect raised the knife towards the officers while quickly advancing at them, and an officer- involved shooting occurred," according to the LBPD. "Officers took the suspect into custody and began life-saving measures while waiting for paramedics to arrive."

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police at (562) 570-7244, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock