Mharloun Saycon, 39, of Carson, California, was shot and killed by Long Beach police on December 14, 2015, during an incident at Looff’s Lite-A-Line arcade in Long Beach. Officers responded to a call about a man reportedly wielding a knife; witnesses said Saycon was acting erratically. Police say officers found Saycon with a switchblade and tried non-lethal measures including a Taser and baton. Officer Vuong Nguyen fired multiple shots after Saycon reportedly failed to comply and made a movement perceived as threatening, and Saycon died at the scene.

Saycon’s family said he suffered from mental illness, including bipolar schizophrenia, and maintained he posed no real threat, asserting the knife was closed and on his lap for much of the encounter. The family filed a wrongful death suit alleging excessive force; the city later settled for $2 million while the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office concluded the shooting was justified, calling the decision a close call given limited clear video evidence. The case underscores conflicting accounts about what happened and raises questions about law enforcement responses to mental health crises.

If anyone witnessed the incident or has information about Saycon’s behavior that afternoon, please share what is known.