Authorities have released the identity of the armed suspect who was fatally shot by Los Angeles Police Department officers during a late-night confrontation in Reseda. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Tuesday that the man killed was 39-year-old Alex Canizalez. His death has prompted an ongoing investigation as officials work to determine the sequence of events that led to the deadly encounter.
According to the LAPD, officers from the department’s Topanga Division were dispatched around 12:10 a.m. Monday following reports of an assault with a deadly weapon near a 7-Eleven located at Sherman Way and Geyser Avenue. As officers arrived, an LAPD helicopter assisting with the response spotted the suspect in the area and helped direct ground units to his location. Officers approached Canizalez as part of their attempt to investigate the reported assault.
Authorities say that during the confrontation, officers opened fire, striking Canizalez. The circumstances surrounding the moment shots were fired—including what Canizalez did in the seconds leading up to the shooting—remain under review. LAPD officials confirmed that a handgun was recovered at the scene, supporting the initial report that the suspect was armed when officers encountered him.
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded quickly, but Canizalez was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured in the incident, and the department has not reported any additional victims connected to the original assault call. As is standard procedure in any officer-involved shooting, the LAPD will conduct a thorough investigation, which includes reviewing body-worn camera footage, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing physical evidence.
The shooting prompted road closures along Sherman Way from Geyser Avenue to Reseda Boulevard for several hours, allowing investigators to secure and process the scene without interruption. The temporary shutdown affected overnight traffic, but all lanes were reopened once detectives completed their initial on-site work.
The case will be reviewed by multiple oversight bodies, including the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division and the Office of the Inspector General, to ensure that the department followed proper protocols. As the investigation continues, officials are expected to release additional details, including video footage, in accordance with public transparency requirements.
