Man armed with machete at Lancaster Albertsons killed during shooting

LANCASTER, Calif. - A man allegedly armed with a machete was shot and killed by deputies Tuesday at an Albertsons in Lancaster.

The shooting occurred about 9:30 a.m. in the 43500 block of 20th Street West, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

According to reports from the scene, the man had two machetes, one in each hand, and refused to drop them. He was allegedly threatening people inside the grocery store. 

SkyFOX captured an aerial view of an Albertsons in Lancaster after a man was shot by deputies on Tuesday. Feb. 6.

Lt. Michael Gomez said the man eventually charged at the deputies, who then shot him. He was declared dead at the hospital.  At least three officers fired their weapons. 

Gomez added that the same man was seen on security video at a gas station about two blocks away, scaring a clerk with a machete, around 3:45 a.m. that same day. 

Chaos is how people at the grocery store described what happened this morning, 

"They were talking to him, even used tasers." 

The vehicle he was seen in remained in the parking lot, cordoned off with yellow tape. It was checked carefully, as there were concerns about possible booby traps. The large parking lot where the Albertson's sits, off West 22nd, remained off limits, except for the area where other businesses continued operating. 

Off camera, some of the other merchants said they had seen the man before in the area.  His identity is not being released until next of kin are notified. 

No deputies or civilians were injured.