Hollywood knifeman shot dead after stabbing rampage

A man was shot dead by police in Los Angeles yesterday after stabbing three people on Sunset Boulevard.

The unnamed knifeman, described only as being in his thirties, first attacked a cyclist on the north side of the Hollywood thoroughfare at around 2pm.

After being prevented from entering a nearby cafe, where employees held the door closed, he then moved on to a neighbouring Jack in the Box fast-food restaurant, where he stabbed another man.

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Witness Korbyn Gomez told Fox News: "We made eye contact. He had a butcher knife full of blood already."

Despite police entering the restaurant, the man knifed a third person, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Police attempts to Taser the man failed and officers shot him in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Video recorded on a mobile phone shows a motionless man lying face down next to a pool of blood and a discarded knife.

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There is so far no evidence that there was any connection between the three victims, who were taken to hospital for treatment. Two were said to be in a serious but stable condition, while the third is set to be released today.

Detectives are interviewing witnesses and checking surveillance tapes for clues to determine the knifeman's motive.