FOUNTAIN VALLEY – A man suspected of attacking a Fountain Valley police officer was fatally shot in the city by another officer.
The series of violent incidents began shortly before 11 a.m. Friday near Kazuo Masuda Middle School, where the suspect unsuccessfully attempted to get into the car of a woman parked there, Fountain Valley police Sgt. Henry Hsu said. A witness who saw the suspect called police.
The suspect ran off and officers tracked him down while one chased him on foot while his partner remained in the squad car, Hsu said.
The suspect attacked the officer in her squad car as she was idling in the 17300 block of San Mateo Street, north of Slater Avenue and east of Brookhurst Street, Hsu said.
During the scuffle they both fell out of the squad car, the suspect got a gun, and it may have been her service revolver or one he already had on him, Hsu said.
The suspect drove the squad car and hit a U.S. Postal Service van, frightening the postal worker, Hsu said.
The suspect brandished a gun, prompting the partner of the officer who was attacked to open fire on the suspect in the police car, Hsu said. The suspect tumbled out of the car and first responders attempted to aid him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Local resident Tilli Skiathitis, who moved to the neighborhood about two months ago, told independent video news agency OC Hawk she heard screaming and yelling Friday morning, and later heard gunshots and a crash.
She took a peek outside and saw a police officer pointing a gun to the patrol car’s passenger side.
“This shook me a little bit,” Skiathitis said.
Authorities have not yet released the name of the man who was shot and killed.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the shooting, per protocol for police shootings.
SCNG staff writer Ryanne Mena contributed to this story.