County officials have released the identity of the man who died during an encounter with Los Angeles Police Department officers in the Reseda area early Monday morning. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the individual was 39-year-old Alex Canizalez.
According to information provided by the LAPD, the incident began just after midnight when officers from the department’s Topanga Division were dispatched to the area of Sherman Way and Geyser Avenue. The call they were responding to involved a report of someone allegedly armed and acting in a threatening manner near a neighborhood convenience store. Because of the seriousness of the situation, multiple units were sent to the scene to ensure public safety.
As officers approached the location, an LAPD air unit overhead helped guide responding units to the individual believed to be involved in the earlier incident. Air support often assists in situations involving potentially dangerous suspects, offering a broader vantage point than ground crews have access to. Guided by this overhead assistance, ground officers moved toward the spot where the suspect was last seen.
When officers encountered Canizalez, a confrontation occurred. Police reported that during this encounter, they discharged their weapons. Full details about what led to the shooting are still under review and have not yet been publicly clarified, as is standard in officer-involved shooting investigations.
Emergency medical personnel were quickly summoned after shots were fired. Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived to provide aid. Despite their efforts, Canizalez was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released additional medical information, pending the completion of the county’s formal review.
The LAPD noted that none of the officers involved were injured during the incident. A firearm was recovered at the location of the confrontation, according to the department’s initial statements. Investigators are now working to determine how the events unfolded, including the sequence of actions taken by both the officers and the suspect.
As with all officer-involved shootings in Los Angeles, this case is being examined by multiple oversight bodies. These typically include internal LAPD investigators, the county’s Medical Examiner-Coroner, and other regional agencies responsible for reviewing use-of-force incidents. Such investigations are routine and aim to establish a full account of the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
In the hours following the incident, a portion of Sherman Way—from Geyser Avenue to Reseda Boulevard—was temporarily closed to allow investigators to examine the area thoroughly. This included documenting evidence, taking measurements, and gathering any physical details that might help establish a clear timeline of what happened. Road closures like this are standard practice following major incidents, particularly those involving loss of life.
Residents in the area experienced some disruptions during the morning due to the closure and presence of law enforcement vehicles, but the roadway was eventually reopened once the preliminary on-scene work was completed. Authorities have not announced when further findings will be released, as these types of inquiries often take time to complete.
Community members are encouraged to follow official updates from local authorities as more details become available. For now, officials emphasize that the investigation remains active, and additional information will be shared once the review process is further along.
