Man With Sledgehammer Who Climbed Long Beach School Fence Identified

LONG BEACH, CA — The 49-year-old man who died after being confronted by several bystanders as he attempted to climb a fence at a Long Beach elementary school while carrying a sledgehammer was identified Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Officers responded to the 6700 block of Orizaba Avenue, between Paramount Boulevard and Obispo Avenue, near the Artesia (91) Freeway, shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday regarding a home invasion, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Police said responding officers arrived at the location and were redirected to McKinley Elementary School near Paramount Boulevard and 68th Street, where John Thompson climbed a fence and entered the school's parking lot with a sledgehammer.

As Thompson attempted to enter the campus, police said he was pulled down and detained by a group of men. Police said responding officers were directed to Thompson, still detained by one of the men, and handcuffed him.

Thompson became unresponsive moments after the arrest, and police began administering life-saving measures until Long Beach Fire Department paramedics arrived, who pronounced him dead at the scene.

The cause of death will be determined by the Department of Medical Examiner, police said. Police said because Thompson died while handcuffed, the death is being investigated as an in-custody death by homicide detectives.

There was no use of force during the arrest, police said.

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