LEMOORE, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) — A shooting involving a Lemoore police officer in the middle of this smaller community.
Authorities said the officer was dispatched to the Country Club apartments on Blake Street near 18th Avenue a little after 1 on Tuesday afternoon.
The officer was asked to collect a statement regarding an assault in Reno about five years ago.
Lemoore Police Chief, Michael Kendall, says the officer went inside the suspect’s apartment to interview him. He says they were sitting down having a conversation — when things took a dangerous turn.
“During that interview and completely unprovoked, the suspect retrieved a knife and as the officer was still sitting – the subject attacked our officer with the knife,” said Chief Kendall.
Chief Kendall says the officer then pulled out his gun and shot the suspect.
The man did not survive.
The Chief, visibly emotional about the incident.
“With one of my officers having to go through this, it’s not something that any police officer wants to do and unfortunately, he was placed into a position where he had no other choice,” said the Chief.
The officer was not physically harmed in the attack.
Chief Kendall said this is the first officer involved shooting since 2019. But Tuesday’s incident still rattled the people in this small community.
“This used to be a nice little town, but I don’t think this isn’t a nice little town anymore cause so many bad things happen here,” said one resident.
The Lemoore resident Linda tells Action News – her mother lives in a nearby complex and was sent into a panic to hear of a heavy police presence so close.
“I just got so nervous and scared, I thought something happened to her,” said Linda.
The man who was shot and killed has not yet been identified.
The officer who opened fire is going to be placed on administrative leave per department policy as this investigation continues.