Lemoore Police Officers headed to the 800 block of Vine Streets on Saturday October 7th after receiving a request for a welfare check and a report of a stolen cell phone. The ex-girlfriend of the man who reported his phone stolen was the accused thief.
The suspect drove by while officers were still at the scene. A chase gave way when she refused to pull over. The suspect and officers traveled over surface streets and Highway 198 before ending back where the suspect was first spotted, where the phone was reported stolen.
The suspect exited her car and rushed toward her ex-boyfriend with a butcher knife in hand. She ignored commands to drop the knife. “Both an electronic control device and Police Canine were deployed but were ineffective” (Lemoore Police Department).
The suspect continued toward her ex-boyfriend in threatening matter with the knife in hand. In order to protect the victim, whose life officers believed was in imminent danger, a police officer fired his gun at the suspect, wounding her.
She was airlifted to a local hospital where she was treated. One officer was also treated at the local hospital for minor injuries.
As is the usual in a situation where a police officer discharges his weapon, the officer who shot the suspect has been put on paid administrative leave while the Kings County Critical Incident Team investigates the shooting. Their findings will be forwarded to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. The names of the victim, suspect, and officer have not yet been released.
