Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies opened fire at two unarmed knife-fight victims as they tried to escape from a violent attack inside an apartment at 939 Palm Avenue in West Hollywood on Monday night, wrongfully killing one man and wounding another, authorities said Thursday.
Homicide bureau detectives are continuing their investigation into the shooting death of a man and the stabbing of two other victims that occurred at 9:29 pm on Monday night on the second level of the apartment building.
The deceased victim is identified as 30-year-old, John Winkler, a resident who lived on the third level of the building.
West Hollywood deputies responded to a call of an “assault with a deadly weapon, man with a knife” in an apartment complex at the location.
According to a L.A. County Sheriff’s Department press statement, deputies were directed to an apartment on the second floor where the suspect with the knife was said to be.
“The deputies were told by informants there were only two males residing in the apartment and described the suspect as a male, white, thin build, wearing a black shirt,” the statement read. “The field sergeant quickly assembled an entry team, along with deputies armed with less lethal weapons. The team staged at the front door of the apartment and announced themselves, but obtained no response.”
The statement said as deputies continued attempts to contact the people in the apartment, the apartment door suddenly opened and a male victim came rushing out.
“He was covered in blood and bleeding profusely from the neck,” the statement read.
This male victim was shot once by a deputy and collapsed.
Simultaneously, victim Winkler ran out of the door, lunging at the back of the fleeing victim, the statement said.
“Winkler was similar to the description of the suspect and was wearing a black shirt,” the statement said.
Believing Winkler was the assailant and the assault was ongoing and he would attack the entry team, three deputies fired their duty weapons at him.
Winkler was struck by four bullets and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The statement said once the door was open, the deputies could hear the sounds of a fight coming from inside the apartment.
The statement said deputies made entry and saw another male victim and suspect Alexander McDonald, 27, fighting on the floor of the living room.
“McDonald had overpowered the victim and was choking and tearing at his face,” the statement said. “Deputies could see the victim was about to go unconscious and a large knife was on the floor near them. The deputies were able to use physical force to subdue the suspect and end the assault. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.”
Homicide investigators have learned that McDonald was a resident and had held Winkler and two other men captive inside the apartment, holding them at knifepoint.
In a rage, the suspect began stabbing the men and fighting with them as the deputies arrived.
Winkler and the other victim were visiting at the time of the incident.
The second gunshot victim — a roommate of the suspect — was transported to a local hospital and treated for stab wounds to the neck and a bullet wound to the leg. He is in stable condition.
The third victim was transported to a local hospital and treated for stab wounds to the legs, arms and chest and was released Tuesday.
McDonald was transported to an area hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released. He is currently in custody.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, has filed the following charges against McDonald; one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of torture.
His bail has been increased from $2 million to $4 million.
