Oxnard police shot a man Monday just after noon after officers say he was wielding a machete inside a store near Saviers Road and Pleasant Valley Road. The man was taken to Ventura County Medical Center in critical but stable condition. The officer involved was not injured, while a police service dog that assisted at the scene suffered minor injuries and was treated.
According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, officers responded to multiple calls about a man with a machete in the Saviers and Pleasant Valley area and found him inside a store. Police say they repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon. When he refused, an officer-involved shooting followed. The suspect allegedly remained uncooperative, which led officers to deploy a police K-9. The officer who fired has been placed on standard administrative leave. The Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating along with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Detectives asked anyone with information to contact Detective Adam Aguilar at (805) 385-7680 or [email protected].
Aerial footage reviewed by CBS LA shows dozens of evidence markers and a heavy police presence on the 100 block of W. Pleasant Valley Road, near a restaurant identified as Restaurant El Fortin. CBS LA reports officers were called at about 12:10 p.m. after bystanders said a man was waving a machete and threatening people. The outlet also reports the suspect was taken to a nearby hospital and that no other injuries were reported.
What police say
The Oxnard Police Department said the officer’s body-worn camera captured the entire incident and that the footage will be shared in a Community Critical Incident Debriefing at a later date, FOX 11 Los Angeles reports. Authorities have not released the names of the suspect or the officer involved while the joint investigation is underway.
Investigation and next steps
The Major Crimes Unit and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office are conducting a joint investigation into the shooting. That review will determine whether any criminal charges are filed. Officials say they will provide updates as more information is cleared for release and plan to schedule a community debriefing to show the body-worn camera footage when appropriate.
