Parents in Los Angeles’ Koreatown called for mental health assistance for their son, Yong Yang, during a bipolar episode earlier this month. Clinical personnel responded first, followed by the police.
Newly released bodycam footage shows police fatally shooting 40-year-old Yang, who was holding a knife, less than 10 seconds after officers opened the door to his parents’ apartment where he had locked himself in.
Yang’s parents, who have spoken to NBC News, dispute parts of the police account captured on bodycam. They contest the claim that a clinician said Yang was violent before the May 2 shooting.
The video, uploaded by Los Angeles police to YouTube, shows officers demanding Yang drop the knife before Officer Andres Lopez shoots him seconds later.
Myung Sook Yang had initially called the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health about her son. Members of the Psychiatric Mobile Response Team responded but called the police for assistance. Yong had been hearing voices and wanted to be alone in the apartment, according to his parents.
“The whole situation was created so that he could protect himself. That’s all. He just yelled out. People were trying to barge in, and he clearly stated that ‘you guys are not invited,’” said Min Yang, Yong’s father.
The Mental Health Department did not comment on the specific case but stated their teams are trained to de-escalate mental health crises without law enforcement unless there is an imminent threat.
Police and Lopez did not comment. Lopez had been involved in a nonfatal shooting in 2021, deemed self-defense by the district attorney.
The Yangs noticed their son’s unusual behavior the day before the shooting but said it was never violent. However, bodycam footage captures a clinician claiming Yang’s father reported his son had become violent.
“The father called our department only because he’s very violent and aggressive,” the clinician said. The clinician’s encounter with Yang was not captured on the released video.
Police Capt. Kelly Muniz said the clinician reported Yang was yelling and talking to himself, eventually forcing his parents out of the apartment. The clinician in the video claimed Yang became aggressive and tried to kick him, though Min Yang denied his son was violent.
“He wanted to be alone. The blinds were shut off. And no one comes in. That’s how he protects himself,” said Min Yang.
After the initial call to the Mental Health Department, personnel quickly assessed Yong Yang before calling the police. Attorney Ryan Casey, representing the Yang family, said they spent less than 2 minutes and 30 seconds with Yong before involving the police.
Min Yang stated he did not see any physical violence, only shouting.
The video shows officers attempting to coax Yang out of the apartment, eventually requesting backup. Bodycam footage from a police supervisor shows her discussing the necessity of force if Yang refused to leave.
Officers later used a key to open the apartment door, finding Yang with a knife. They commanded him to drop the knife, but he did not comply and advanced toward them. Lopez then fired several shots, and Yang dropped.
“Officers gave Yang commands to drop the knife. However, he did not comply and instead continued advancing towards them, resulting in an officer-involved shooting,” said Muniz. Yang was struck by gunfire and later pronounced dead by the Los Angeles Fire Department. The county medical examiner’s report confirmed he died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Min Yang was shocked by the police’s quick use of gunfire, having expected them to calm his son and take him to the hospital. He also noted that law enforcement did not immediately inform him of his son’s death, only hinting at it.
Min and Myung Sook Yang are calling for an independent investigation and the release of all evidence.
“I feel so sorry for my son. He was scared and trying to protect himself,” Min Yang said. “I’m so sorry that he had to leave this world forcefully. How can I live without feeling sorry for the rest of my life?”
