LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department released body-camera footage of the in-custody death of Jose Carlos Hoyoz-Munoz and video showing the fatal shooting of Alejandro Luis Garcia on 29 August 2026. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called for an independent evaluation into officer-involved deaths concerning people experiencing mental health crises following the release.

Bass announced plans for an executive directive examining officer-involved deaths and severe injuries, particularly those involving people experiencing mental health crises. She blamed decades of disinvestment in community-based mental and behavioral health services for leaving too many Angelenos without timely care.

Hoyoz-Munoz was 58 years old when he was arrested on 13 July following a call about a suspected assault with a deadly weapon. He allegedly injured his mother and another relative with a knife, and his mother had a laceration on her arm. His mother said in Spanish, "He has lost his mind. He’s gone crazy."

Hoyoz-Munoz was found unconscious in his cell at the Van Nuys regional jail on 15 July. The LAPD stated that three use-of-force incidents occurred involving Hoyoz-Munoz, revising an initial statement that two incidents had occurred. Body-camera footage showed Hoyoz-Munoz flapping what appeared to be a piece of cloth against the window in his holding cell.

Several officers entered Hoyoz-Munoz's cell and pinned him to the ground. The LAPD described the restraint as being spurred by Hoyoz-Munoz’s “combative” behavior as they sought to fingerprint him. Officers placed Hoyoz-Munoz in a harnessed chair to transport him to the booking stalls.

Police used the weight of their bodies to restrain Hoyoz-Munoz again, citing resistance. Hoyoz-Munoz spat at officers, prompting them to put a spit hood over his face. He was escorted back to his cell handcuffed with the spit hood partly covering his face and his pants sagging down to his ankles.

Hoyoz-Munoz climbed on top of a toilet. Officers entered the cell again and moved Hoyoz-Munoz to the cell bed, positioning him face down. Three detention officers were injured during altercations with Hoyoz-Munoz and treated for contusions and minor lacerations.

The LAPD said officers conducted wellness checks for 20 minutes after restraining Hoyoz-Munoz, when he appeared to exhibit signs of life. Hoyoz-Munoz was found unconscious and not breathing. He was pronounced deceased.

Alejandro Luis Garcia was 33 years old when he was fatally shot by police on 29 July. Garcia allegedly shattered car windows with a baseball bat. He was allegedly swinging a baseball bat at people and occupied cars beneath the 10 Freeway near Normandie Avenue and Washington Boulevard in West Adams.

Officers arrived shortly before 6:30 p.m. and said Garcia was still wielding the bat at officers and bystanders. Video shows officers yelling "Drop the weapon! Put it down!" while Garcia advanced. Garcia fell to the ground and dropped the bat after shots were fired.

Officers performed CPR on Garcia until he was transported to a local hospital. Garcia was pronounced dead at the hospital. The LAPD released video showing the death of Alejandro Luis Garcia, whom officers fatally shot.

Bass described the videos as difficult to watch in a Friday statement. "People who experience behavioral or mental health crises often do not receive the proper care they desperately need. Without it, they can deteriorate into behavior that can result in severe injury or death," she said.

"We must rigorously examine whether our policies, training, tactics, supervision and accountability systems are sufficient," she said. Bass said LAPD officers "do not enter the force to become first responders to mental health crises" and are not equipped with the proper training to do so.

"The reality is, until society provides the proper care for individuals with mental health disorders, law enforcement will continue to be called upon to respond, especially when those individuals exhibit violent behavior," she said. She called for expanded civilian crisis-response and co-response programs for people in crisis who have not exhibited violent behavior. "Public safety cannot be achieved through law enforcement alone," she said.

Why It Matters

The release of body-camera footage from two separate incidents involving fatal encounters with police has prompted a high-level review of how the city handles mental health crises. The cases involve individuals who were reportedly experiencing behavioral disturbances, raising questions about the role of law enforcement in such situations. Bass linked the incidents to broader systemic issues in mental health care access.

The mayor's call for an independent evaluation and an executive directive signals a potential shift in policy regarding officer-involved deaths and severe injuries. The focus on mental health crises suggests an effort to distinguish these cases from other uses of force. The directive aims to examine whether current policies, training, and accountability systems are sufficient to prevent similar outcomes.

Timeline

On 13 July 2026, Jose Carlos Hoyoz-Munoz was arrested following a call about a suspected assault with a deadly weapon. During the incident, he allegedly injured his mother and another relative with a knife, leaving his mother with a laceration on her arm. His mother said in Spanish, "He has lost his mind. He’s gone crazy." SWAT agents deployed teargas during an hours-long standoff, during which Hoyoz-Munoz was located kneeling before a piano, touching the keys and speaking of religion.

He was taken to a hospital for treatment of exposure to gas utilized by SWAT personnel before being booked into Van Nuys Regional Jail.

What's New

Additional reporting revealed that the LAPD initially stated that two use-of-force incidents had occurred involving Jose Carlos Hoyoz-Munoz, but later revised this to three incidents upon releasing the body-camera footage. In the case of Alejandro Luis Garcia, officers arrived shortly before 6:30 p.m. and said Garcia was still wielding the bat at officers and bystanders. Put it down! While Garcia advanced, and officers performed CPR on Garcia until he was transported to a local hospital. Garcia was allegedly swinging a baseball bat at people and occupied cars beneath the 10 Freeway near Normandie Avenue and Washington Boulevard in West Adams. Mayor Karen Bass added that LAPD officers "do not enter the force to become first responders to mental health crises" and are not equipped with the proper training to do so. She stated, "The reality is, until society provides the proper care for individuals with mental health disorders, law enforcement will continue to be called upon to respond, especially when those individuals exhibit violent behavior," and noted that "Public safety cannot be achieved through law enforcement alone."