Investigation continues after suspect shot and killed by Lemoore PD officer after alleged attack
Neighbors are still startled after a man was shot and killed by a police officer in this Lemoore neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon.
"Everything was so quiet and then that happened, and a lot of people were here," says one neighbor, Juanita Hernandez.
The Lemoore Police Department says an officer was dispatched to the Country Club Apartment Complex to collect information on an incident that happened in Reno years ago.
Chief Michael Kendall told Action News during a sit-down interview inside the apartment that the suspect grabbed a knife and tried to attack his officer.
That's when the officer grabbed his gun and fired.
"In this case, a knife is a deadly weapon. And you're not going to back up a deadly weapon with a less-than-lethal weapon, meaning a stun bag shotgun and or a taser. In this case, a taser probably would not have been effective, as the suspect from the article appeared to be very, very close to the officer," explains law enforcement expert Bruce Thomas.
The Kings County Sheriff's Office is now handling the investigation. They had no further comment.
Law Enforcement Expert Bruce Thomas says the investigation will be extensive.
"The officer's statements will be part of the investigation. They will talk to him. If they can get any witnesses, they'll talk to them. Bodycam footage is very, very important to see what transpired and how it matches up with the officer's statements, in addition to any video surveillance footage, ring doorbell cameras, anything like that," says Thomas.
Thomas shares he was in a similar situation during his law enforcement career in the 90s.
And knows from first-hand experience the emotional toll an incident like this can take.
"After a critical incident like this, an officer-involved shooting, there is a mental part that weighs on you. You just took somebody's life, and you have to have that mental stability of, "Hey, I get paid to go home." expresses Thomas, "Hopefully, he or she will be able to continue with their career, but it does happen, a small percentage, where they can't," continues Thomas.
Law enforcement experts say an investigation like this could take months to complete.
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