Arson Suspect Armed with Meat Cleaver Fatally Shot by Deputies

On February 26, 2025, at 6:06 p.m., Temple Station deputies responded to an arson-inprogress call on the 8700 block of Scott Street, Rosemead. The call stated a female at the residence had ignited an unknown item and threw the item toward a neighbor. The female was later identified as 56-year-old Susan Lu. Upon arrival, deputies located Lu and attempted to contact her, but she ran into her residence. Deputies contained the location and made multiple attempts to establish communication with Lu. The Mental Evaluation Team responded and attempted negotiations for hours without success. Temple Station detectives ultimately obtained a search and arrest warrant for Lu on a charge of Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

On February 27, 2025, at approximately 12:30 a.m., deputies serving the warrant encountered Lu inside her residence, armed with a meat cleaver. A deputy gave Lu several verbal commands to drop the meat cleaver, but she refused. A 40mm Sage Deuce less-lethal weapon was used in an attempt to subdue Lu, but the baton rounds had minimal effect. Lu raised the meat cleaver toward deputies and a deputy-involved shooting occurred. Lu was struck by gunfire and retreated into a closet. Deputies immediately approached Lu and rendered first aid until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel. Lu was subsequently transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased. No deputies or other persons were injured during the incident. A meat cleaver was recovered at the scene.

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