FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A deadly officer involved shooting takes place Tuesday morning, next to Southeast Fresno Elementary School.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said a 9-1-1 call came in just after 11:30 a.m. to report that that a man in his 20’s or early 30’s was yelling, appearing to be agitated, and possibly high on drugs.
He was standing in the northwest corner of the field next to Mario G. Olmos Elementary School.
Police were told that the suspect got into a fight with another man holding a stick, but he left before officers arrived.
Mario G. Olmos Elementary School was placed on lock down for 90 minutes, and officers started arriving on scene, including a negotiator.
Chief Dyer said there was a great deal of discussion, and the negotiator spent about 20 minutes speaking to the man, before he reached down to his backpack and pulled out a long hunting knife.
The negotiator and officers backed away and tried to get the suspect to comply with their orders.
While they tried to diffuse the situation, Chief Dyer says the man pulled a gun from the bag,
Two officers fired two to three shots each, striking the man. Both lethal and non-lethal bullets were used.
“One officer fired less lethal, two officers fired their handguns, it was a split second decision,” said Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.
Police say officers immediately rendered aid and the man was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Dyer says the officers that were involved in the shooting are both veteran officers that have been with the department for at least 15 years.
They have both been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation
Police are looking at body worn police cameras, and the district attorney are now conducting an investigation
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
