Man accused of stealing doughnuts and coffee is wounded by El Monte police, deputies say

A man who refused to pay for coffee and doughnuts at an eatery was shot and wounded by El Monte police Monday morning after he threw a knife at them, authorities said.

The shooting occurred just before 1 a.m. in the 10500 block of Garvey Avenue in El Monte, according to Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is assisting in the investigation.

The man, whose identity wasn’t released, was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg, Navarro-Suarez said in a written statement. He is expected to survive.

No officers were injured during the shooting.

According to sheriff’s investigators, the man approached a window at a Yum Yum Donuts shop, tapped on the glass with a knife and demanded doughnuts and coffee.

A doughnut shop employee handed the man some pastries and coffee. The man refused to pay and walked away, Navarro-Suarez said.

When officers responded to a report at the shop, they saw the man, who was still holding a knife, she said.

The man threw a cup of hot coffee toward one of the officers, the deputy said.

Two officers used a Taser, but both attempts were ineffective, authorities said.

After the Taser attempts, the man allegedly raised the knife and threw it toward the officers, Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Lt. Joe Mendoza said. That’s when police fired at the man.

Detectives found a large, metal knife at the scene.

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UPDATES:

1:45 p.m.: This article was updated with details about the shooting and the suspect’s condition.

This article was originally published at 6:05 a.m.