LA County deputy shoots, kills man armed with sharp object, bodycam shows

On February 23, 2024, at 6:32 a.m., Palmdale Station deputies responded to a gas station in the 13000 block of Pearblossom Highway, Unincorporated Pearblossom, regarding a call of an assault with a deadly weapon. The caller stated a male was armed with a sharp object, threatening to stab the victim if she didn’t call the police. The male was later identified as 30-year-old Joseph Westley Henson from the Pearblossom area. Deputies located Henson walking eastbound away from the business with a sharp object in his hand. They gave Henson multiple commands to show his hands and drop the weapon, but he refused to comply. The deputies followed Henson in their vehicle as he walked eastbound toward another business. Deputies continued to speak to Henson giving additional verbal commands to gain his compliance. Henson stated repeatedly, “You’re going to have to shoot me.” At one point during the encounter, Henson advanced toward the deputies while concealing his right hand inside the front left chest area of his jacket, simulating a weapon, at which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred. After the deputy-involved shooting, Henson ran away from the deputies. The deputies engaged in a short foot pursuit of Henson to the front entrance of the business, where he fell to the ground. Henson sustained several gunshot wounds. Deputies rendered first aid until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics. Henson was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.