Lemoore police officer forced to fire on suspect threatening man with large knife

By The Leader Staff
Lemoore police officer forced to fire on suspect threatening man with large knife

A Lemoore police officer Saturday night was forced to fire his weapon to prevent a suspect from harming a victim after leading police officers on a chase around Lemoore. 

The incident began at approximately 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 when Lemoore Police Department officers responded to a call for service on Vine Street, expecting to implement a check for welfare and the possible theft of a phone.

Upon their arrival, the officers were told that the suspect left the area. They also learned that the suspect was also the ex-girlfriend of the individual reporting the missing cell phone.

A few minutes later the suspect returned to the scene while officers were still in the area. Attempts to perform a traffic stop were unsuccessful, and a pursuit ensued. The chase continued along several surface roads and moved to Highway 198 before the suspect returned to the original location of the call on Vine Street.

The suspect left the vehicle and ran from officers.  She was armed with a large butcher knife and ran towards the victim threateningly holding the weapon. Officers gave numerous commands to the suspect to drop the knife, but she failed to comply with the officers’ warnings.

It was at that moment that they used the electronic control device and their police canine, both of which failed to stop the suspect.  One of the officers, believing the victim's life was in imminent danger, fired and wounded the suspect.  The suspect was airlifted to a local hospital and treated.  One officer was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.  

The Kings County Critical Incident Team is investigating.  The investigation remains active and once completed will be turned over to Kings County District Attorney’s Office for review, as is customary for all officer-involved shootings.  The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave consistent with department policy.  

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