Video shows Huntington Park police shooting Anthony Lowe

Huntington Park police released surveillance video Monday showing officers shooting a knife-wielding double amputee along with a recording of a stabbing victim’s 911 call that led to the fatal encounter.

In the video, three officers from the Huntington Park Police Department approach Anthony Lowe, 36, as he hobbles on what’s left of his legs. He carries a knife, which police say they used to stab a man, and is seen lifting it above his head.

Lowe grabs the knife as the officers point their guns at him, and at least one opens fire. He falls to the ground.

Police Chief Cosme Lozano said Monday that officers in Huntington Park do not wear body cameras. The department, he said, is cooperating with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is investigating the shooting.

Another video released Monday shows the stabbing, outside a Shell gas station at the corner of Slauson and Santa Fe avenues. Surveillance footage shows Lowe sitting in his wheelchair as a pedestrian approaches the crosswalk. Lowe appears to rush out of his wheelchair with a knife and stab the man in the chest. The pedestrian staggers off camera and Lowe waits around the corner for a few seconds before crossing the street.

Lozano played the 911 call made by the stabbing victim, who identified himself as Ramiro.

“I was stabbed in the heart right now,” Ramiro moaned.

When the 911 dispatcher asks him to describe the attacker, Ramiro says, “He has no feet.”

Seconds later, Ramiro’s voice cuts out of the call and a passerby picks up the phone, telling the dispatcher that he didn’t see the stab or the attacker.

Shortly after, police sirens can be heard in the call.

Police said they found a man “who suffered a life-threatening stab wound resulting in a collapsed lung and internal bleeding.” Ramiro, whose last name has not been released, survived.

In surveillance video of the police shooting, Lowe rolls his wheelchair down the sidewalk of Slauson Avenue, shown in a long shot without audio. As Lowe heads west, two officers approach him and he walks away. An officer grabs the back of his wheelchair and throws it to the side, knocking Lowe to the ground.

It’s unclear what will happen next as Lowe pulls himself up on what’s left of his legs, hobbling after a few seconds. The officers appear to have their weapons drawn.

Police cruisers approach and a third officer gets out of his car, joining the other officers with weapons drawn on the sidewalk. Lowe swings the knife above his head before getting shot and falling.

It’s unclear how many officers shot Lowe.

Police said they provided medical aid to Lowe before paramedics arrived.

Lt. Hugo Reynaga told The Times that officers repeatedly used a “no effect” Taser before opening fire.

“He tried to run away, and every time he turned around and made the move like he was going to throw the knife at him, they tasered him,” Reynaga said. “They were trying to give this guy the less lethal Taser shock. And because it was inefficient, they had to move on to something more efficient.

Seven minutes passed between Ramiro’s 911 call and when police shot Lowe, according to Lozano.

“I hope you know that it is not me who has the authority to determine whether the actions of my officers meet the legal standard of justifiable use of deadly force,” the police chief said.

Cliff Smith, an organizer with the Coalition for Community Control Over the Police, watched the police conference with the Lowe family outside the Huntington Park Police Department.

“There is nothing in the Huntington Park police description that can justify or cover up the execution of Anthony Lowe,” Smith said. “It only reinforces the fact that they had a multitude of options to apprehend him and let the justice system take its course.”

The LA County District Attorney’s Office would decide if the shooting is justifiable. All three officers are on administrative leave pending investigation by the Sheriff’s Department and review by prosecutors.

“My condolences, thoughts and prayers for continued peace and emotional healing go out to Anthony Lowe’s family,” Lozano said. “My thoughts and best wishes go out to Ramiro, who was visiting Huntington Park looking for a job. My thoughts and commitment are with the men and women of the Huntington Park Police Department and the community of Huntington Park.

Lowe’s family held press conferences last week about the shooting, announcing that their attorneys were filing a civil suit that would lead to a lawsuit against the city.

“It’s sad, really sad how the police get away with killing our African American people,” said Ellakenyada Gorum, Lowe’s cousin. “He was in a wheelchair. What more could he do?

“I just want the truth,” said her mother, Dorothy Lowe. “Nothing but truth and justice for my son. My son was murdered.

Times editor Connor Sheets contributed to this report.