Man Fatally Shot By Police On Calif. School Campus
TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) — Police fatally shot a 19-year-old man Thursday after he allegedly set fire to his ex-girlfriend's Los Angeles-area apartment with their 2-year-old son inside, torched his mother's house and made threats to kill officers.
Asa Dolak was killed after police found him in the girls' bathroom at Madrona Middle School armed with a knife, Torrance police Sgt. Robert Watt said. School was not in session.
Dolak allegedly fled from officers and was shot in the school yard across the street from his mother's house.
Police allege that Dolak set his ex-girlfriend's place on fire at 12:15 a.m. after a Christmas argument spiraled out of control. Firefighters found the four-apartment complex fully engulfed in flames when they arrived, and Dolak's ex-girlfriend told them he'd set the place on fire and that their 2-year-old son was still inside.
The boy was rescued and treated for smoke inhalation; he's in stable condition at a hospital.
Dolak then allegedly drove to his mother's house 4 miles away and set it on fire at about 2 a.m. She wasn't home, and the flames were doused by firefighters. Investigators found Dolak's vehicle near the home and determined he was likely on foot.
During their investigation, detectives were able to reach Dolak by phone. Dolak allegedly threatened to harm his family and to kill any officers that attempted to contact him "saying he had the weapons to do so," Watt said.
"He also stated that he would not be taken alive by police and if he got wind that officers were searching for him he would start killing people," Watt said.
When officers searched the school campus they found Dolak in the women's restroom with a knife. After a less than two-minute foot pursuit, he was shot and killed.
No weapons other than a knife were found in Dolak's possession. Detectives are still trying to determine why Dolak was upset with his mother and the motive for his actions.
The shooting is under investigation. The four officers who were involved will be placed off duty, per protocol, pending exams with the department psychologist, Watt said.
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