Full Breakdown
Shooting at Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que in Cerritos
7/20/2026, 8:54:56 AM
Incident Overview
On Sunday afternoon, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) responded to reports of a man wielding a knife inside Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, located in the Promenade Cerritos shopping center. The incident occurred in the 11000 block of South Street at approximately 2:12 p.m. (LASD) or 2:15 p.m. (NBC Los Angeles). The man with the knife was found with self-inflicted stab wounds and gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by fire-department paramedics. An off-duty officer was present but did not fire his weapon. A separate vehicle crash near a Starbucks across South Street was reported as possibly linked to the same individual.
Official Statements & Responses
LASD homicide detectives are leading the investigation and have described the shooting as an isolated incident. Lt. German Ochoa of the LASD Homicide Bureau said the suspect “ran into Lucille’s while armed with a knife, ran through the kitchen and service area of the restaurant, scaring customers and staff.” The department released a statement confirming that a customer with a valid concealed-carry permit confronted the knife-wielding man, ordered him to drop the weapon, and discharged a firearm after the man charged. The shooter remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Authorities have asked anyone with information to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
On-the-Ground Accounts
An employee who witnessed the shooting described the scene as “straight out of a horror film,” noting that the victim entered the dining area with a knife and was shot after refusing to comply. A second witness reported hearing “two shots” as the man moved between kitchen lines. Magaly Zacarias, a shopping-center employee, recounted that the suspect “almost hit somebody” while driving a red pickup before abandoning the vehicle and running into the restaurant with a knife.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact time of the deputies’ arrival (2:12 p.m. vs. 2:15 p.m.). The identity of the concealed-carry shooter has not been released, and the precise relationship between the vehicle crash and the shooting remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I just saw a guy run in the restaurant with his throat slit, and he had a knife.” — Employee, Lucille’s Smokehouse
- “Ran into Lucille's while armed with a knife, ran through the kitchen and service area of the restaurant, scaring customers and staff,” — Lt. German Ochoa, LASD Homicide Bureau
- “The male adult then charged toward the customer while still armed with the knife, and the customer discharged their firearm," the release said.” — LASD news release
- “He almost hit somebody and then he ended up parking his car, or leaving his car in this plaza here, and running out with a knife in his hand,” — Magaly Zacarias, shopping-center employee
