EspañolDilen Flamino, 38, Injured in Los Angeles County Police Shooting Following Mental Health Call
AZUSA, CALIFORNIA (July 10, 2026) – A 38-year-old man identified as Dilen Flamino was injured in a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shooting at a home on the 5500 block of North Orangecrest Avenue.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the event occurred around 3:30 PM on May 20. Authorities received a call about a man who may be in serious mental distress.
Deputies arrived at the scene and encountered Dilen Flamino. He allegedly produced a 3-inch knife before advancing towards them.
Deputies deployed a taser and a beanbag gun before shooting him with a firearm. Dilen Flamino was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles County Police Shootings
Police officers in California have a legal right to use deadly force in certain instances. But this must always be an absolute measure of last resort and only if they are presented with an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. When evaluating whether or not a police officer used excessive force, courts in California will take into consideration the totality of circumstances that the officer was facing and what decisions they made prior to using that force. There are several measures officers should take if they are dealing with a person who may be in serious mental distress.
- Recognize Signs: Police officers should be trained to recognize the signs that someone is going through a mental health crisis. This can include extreme agitation and paranoia.
- Gather Information: Police officers should ask the suspect if they have taken any medications or substances recently.
- Create Distance: Police officers should create distance and avoid rushing into the encounter.
- De-escalation: Police officers should speak in a calm voice and work to de-escalate the encounter to the best of their ability.
Police departments can be liable for the excessive force of their officers. Under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, the central question related to whether or not an officer used excessive force is whether or not that force was objectively reasonable. If police officers failed to follow some safety protocol related to people who are in mental distress, this could render any subsequent force that they use unreasonable in light of everything that occurred.
Steps to Take After Los Angeles Police Shootings
Police shootings remain a very common occurrence across Los Angeles County in California. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “About 195 people die each year from interactions with California law enforcement. Gunshots are by far the most common cause of death: nearly 250 people are shot by police each year.” An estimated 40% of these victims were diagnosed with a mental health condition. Multiple actions should be taken after any police shooting.
- All of the medical records related to the incident should be collected and preserved.
- Body camera footage from the officers involved should be sought.
- Medical records related to the incident should be thoroughly reviewed.
- Victims should consider their legal options and consult a team experienced in constitutional claims.
Police shootings can leave victims with traumatic and life-altering injuries. These are often compounded by whatever mental health issues a person was already suffering from. Unfortunately, police departments across Los Angeles County have demonstrated over and over again that they will almost never accept responsibility when they seriously injure someone. It is therefore always a good idea to have these incidents evaluated by an independent party.
Investigating Los Angeles Police Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm were very concerned to hear about this shooting of Dilen Flamino. It is our sincere hope that the victim will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. This person clearly needed help. Instead, they were met with deadly force that could have ended their life.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County police shooting? Our team of civil rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims get the information and assistance that they need to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of support, we may be able to help. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
