Crazed knifeman attacks officer before being shot dead in Santa Monica

In early October 2023, a violent incident occurred outside the Santa Monica Police headquarters in California involving a man from New York named Deyaa Abdelhadi Halaibeh. Prior to the attack, Halaibeh assaulted an employee at a nearby Target store, stealing an eight-inch chef's knife. After this assault, he approached the police station, where he engaged with an officer by buzzing a call button to speak with them. During the interaction, he misled the officer before suddenly pulling out the knife and lunging, resulting in multiple stab wounds to the officer's neck and shoulder. The officer, however, managed to defend himself and was able to return fire, fatally wounding Halaibeh. Following the assault, the wounded officer communicated to his colleagues that he had been stabbed and required immediate medical assistance. Officers arriving at the scene provided urgent care before he was taken to the hospital. His injuries, while severe, were mitigated by the protective vest he was wearing, and he was discharged from the hospital the next day. Officials from the Santa Monica Police Department stated that Halaibeh had no prior criminal record in California and was under investigation for potential mental health issues and the motives behind his attack. The incident raised questions regarding how Halaibeh ended up in California and what circumstances led to his violent actions against law enforcement. The Santa Monica Police Department emphasized the bravery of the officer involved and the need to assess the mental well-being of individuals who display aggressive behavior towards police officers. Investigators are continuing to probe Halaibeh's background to better understand the motives behind this unexpected and targeted attack.