FRESNO – The man police shot and killed in Central Fresno on Tuesday evening after he threatened them with a steak knife has been identified as 27-year-old Martin Figueroa.
The incident happened Tuesday night near Vassar and San Pablo avenues near FresnoCityCollege.
Figueroa’s family called 911 just before 7 p.m. saying that Martin was high on methamphetamine and they needed help. Relatives exited the apartment and officers attempted to negotiate with Figueroa, who remained inside, for 45 minutes, authorities said.
Officers then went into the apartment with a K9 unit. The officers and dog discovered the suspect in a bedroom. Figueroa then started screaming, held up a steak knife and began threatening the officers.
“They were inside of the bedroom probably within three to four feet of the suspect,” Dyer said, adding that the suspect had the steak knife raised “over his head in a threatening manner toward the officers.”
Both officers fired their guns, striking Figueroa. He was taken to CommunityRegionalMedicalCenter, where he was pronounced dead.
Figueroa, a Bulldog gang member, was on parole for gang-related crimes. His family told authorities that he was on methamphetamine and had been for up to a day before the shooting. They also said he seemed to be hallucinating, according to police.
The two officers who opened fire have been placed on administrative leave, per the department’s protocol.
This is the third officer-involved shooting that the Fresno Police Department has been involved in this year.
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