Metro Stabbing Suspect Shot By Police Faces Attempted Murder Charge

HOLLYWOOD, CA — The man who was shot by police Tuesday after stabbing a 61-year-old man near the Vermont/Beverly Metro station is being held on $2.1 million bail for a charge of attempted murder, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The LAPD on Wednesday issued a news release with preliminary information about the incident involving Mason Todd Swenor, 23, of Glendale, Arizona. He remains at a local hospital and is listed in critical condition after being shot by police. Two investigations are ongoing: One into Swenor's actions and another by the LAPD Force Investigation Division, the report says.

LAPD transit officers were approached by a man at the Metro B (Red) Line station at around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday who said another man — later identified as Swenor — had brandished a knife at him. The man showed officers a cell phone photo he took of Swenor and directed police toward him, according to the release.

The officers approached Swenor, who was at the station's lower-level mezzanine, and "repeatedly ordered him to drop the knife." Swenor did not comply with the officers' commands, the LAPD wrote.

Swenor fled to the station's upper level, where he approached a 74-year-old woman and struck her in the head with an "unknown object," police said.

The officers continued their pursuit of Swenor up to the street. As he headed north on Vermont Avenue, police said Swenor stabbed a man on his left shoulder. He then ran across the street and into the rear parking lot of a building, the LAPD said.

"Swenor positioned himself in front of a parked vehicle, while still in possession of the knife. The officers pursued Swenor to the parking lot and positioned themselves at the rear of the vehicle," the LAPD release reads.

"The officers continued to give commands ordering Swenor to drop the knife, however, he refused to comply. With the knife in his hand, Swenor charged at one of the officers resulting in an officer involved shooting. Swenor was struck by the officers’ gunfire; he fell to the ground and dropped the knife. Swenor was taken into custody without further incident."

Swenor was transported to a local hospital, where he remains listed in critical but stable condition.

The 71-year-old woman was hospitalized and released for her injuries. The man who police said Swenor stabbed was hospitalized and is in stable condition, according to the release.