Oxnard Police Department – Incident Press Release
At approximately 6:55 AM on May 3, 2019, the Oxnard Police Department’s Dispatch Center received calls regarding a female who was waving a knife in the parking lot behind the businesses located at 480 North Rose Avenue in the City of Oxnard.
The first Oxnard Police officer arrived on scene and made verbal contact with a female in the dirt field behind the business. The female brandished a large kitchen knife at the officer. The officer drew his handgun and made several verbal requests for her to drop the weapon. The female ignored the officer’s requests, and began to walk towards him. The officer retreated backwards in an attempt to create space between them. The officer continued to give the female verbal commands to drop the weapon as he retreated for approximately fifty yards. As the second officer arrived on scene, the female ran directly towards the first officer with the knife in her hand. The officer fired his weapon, and the female was struck by gunfire. Officers promptly rendered first aid to her until medical personnel arrived on scene. The officer was not injured.
During the encounter, the female made a statement indicating that she wanted the officer to shoot her.
The entire incident was captured on the officer’s body worn camera.
The 17 year-old female was transported via ambulance to a local hospital. At the time of this news release she is listed in critical but stable condition. Her name is being withheld due to her age.
Police Chief Scott Whitney: “On a regular basis our police officers respond to critical incidents where they put themselves in harm’s way. They do everything they can to peacefully resolve these incidents. The last thing that our officers want to happen is to be forced to shoot someone.”
The involved officer has been employed by the Oxnard Police Department since April of 2015, and is currently assigned to the Patrol Division. Per standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, the officer has been placed on administrative leave as the investigation progresses.
The Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident. Detectives are requesting that anyone who might have witnessed the incident, or has additional information to contact Detective Jeff Kay at (805) 385-8174 or by email at [email protected].
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Why don’t they use a stun gun?
Headline should be”OPD foils ‘death by cop’ suicide attempt!”
Another headline might be:
Officer risks own life by backing away for 50 yards from a knife wielding female.