LAPD Releases Video Of Sunset Boulevard Shooting

LOS ANGELES, CA — Authorities Thursday released the police body camera footage of the fatal shooting of a carjacking suspect in the middle of Sunset Boulevard just three days before Thanksgiving.

The footage captures the harrowing moments when a machete-wielding suspect stopped fleeing officers and instead became the aggressor. Ultimately, he was shot by a Los Angeles police officer as he stood above a fallen officer with his machete seemingly poised to strike.

The video, which included narration by LAPD officials, shows how several nonlethal options such as tasers and bean bags failed to slow down the suspect. And it shows officers making life-and-death decisions on one of the city's busiest streets.

Nathaniel Pinnock, 22, of Los Angeles was shot about 11:30 a.m. Nov. 25 near Sunset Boulevard and McCadden Place and died at a hospital, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The violent incident began with a robbery shortly before the shooting. Pinnock, armed with a machete, robbed an auto parts store in the 1300 block of Highland Avenue near Fountain Avenue, and witnesses flagged down patrolling officers who then spotted him walking in the area, according to LAPD Capt. Gisselle Espinoza.

The Hollywood Division officers, identified by the LAPD as Youssef Brady and Nicolas Padilla, followed Pinnock to a restaurant at Sunset and McCadden. Bystander video shows a carjacking take place in the restaurant's drive-thru.

"Pinnock entered the passenger’s side of a patron’s vehicle with a machete in hand, and the driver got out of the vehicle," Espinoza said. "One officer deployed a taser in an effort to stop Pinnock, but the taser was not effective."

Throughout the video, officers can be seen shooting bean bags and tasers at Pinnock, but he never slows down. Even gunfire at close range fails to deter him.

WARNING: The video contains violent language and graphic imagery. Click here to see the video.

Pinnock quickly drove the stolen car out of the drive-thru and collided with two police vehicles before stopping at Sunset and McCadden, police said.

"As Pinnock exited the vehicle armed with the machete, the officers utilized additional less-lethal options," police said. These weapons included a bean bag shotgun, designed to fire a cloth sock filled with small metal pellets, and a 40-millimeter less-than-lethal launcher, which fires a foam projectile, according to Espinoza.

"Despite these efforts, Pinnock ran from the vehicle eastbound on Sunset Boulevard with the machete still in hand," police said. "The officers chased him on foot and after a short distance, Pinnock changed his direction and charged towards one of the officers while holding the machete in his right hand, resulting in an OIS [officer-involved shooting]."

Pinnock's final moments were captured in bystander and police body-camera footage. After he reversed and charged the pursuing officer, the officer trips to the ground in the middle of Sunset Boulevard. And though he fired several shots at Pinnock, Pinnock never seems to slow. He stands above the fallen officer, raises his machete overhead and is shot by another officer before he can bring the weapon down, the video shows.

Pinnock was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"We're still at the very early stages of this investigation, which can often take up to a year to complete," said LAPD Public Information Director Josh Rubenstein.