Machete-Wielding Suspect Shot By Police Outside Hospital

A machete-wielding suspect was shot by officers outside UCI Health Los Alamitos on Wednesday morning, prompting a lockdown at the hospital and a large multi-agency response.

At approximately 10:07 a.m. on July 22, 2026, Long Beach Police officers responded to reports of a possible DUI and road rage incident involving a Long Beach Fire Department ambulance transporting a patient.

According to Long Beach Police, officers located the suspect vehicle, but the driver fled on foot. A perimeter was established and SWAT resources were requested.

During the search, an officer-involved shooting involving personnel from an outside law enforcement agency occurred near UCI Health Los Alamitos at Cherry Street and Florista Street.

Los Alamitos Police Public Information Officer Robert Acosta said the suspect, who was reportedly armed with a machete, was transported to a nearby trauma center in critical condition.

Long Beach Police confirmed none of its officers were involved in the shooting and referred all inquiries regarding the officer-involved shooting to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, which is leading the investigation.

A command post remained in place for several hours as investigators processed the scene, causing significant traffic disruptions in the surrounding area.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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