A Fresno man shot to death last week by police had toxic levels of methamphetamine in his blood when he died, the Fresno County Coroner's Office confirmed Wednesday.
John Cooper, 38, was fatally shot Oct. 28 in northwest Fresno as he pointed a replica handgun at two officers.
"There is a strong possibility [methamphetamine] altered his behavior," said Jeff Gentry, a deputy coroner.
John Cooper was the younger brother of Daniel Cooper, 45, whose naked, decomposed body was found Oct. 20 near the San Joaquin River.
Daniel Cooper also had high levels of methamphetamine in his body when he died, the coroner's office reported Wednesday.
His body was on the river bank for several days before it was discovered by hikers, Gentry said.
The shooting death of John Cooper occurred a day after Fresno police shot Steven Anthony Vargas, 32, of Fresno.
Vargas was shot after witnesses said he had a gun and appeared intoxicated.
Police said he was driving east in the westbound lanes of McKinley Avenue and crashed his SUV into a car parked in front of a house.
Fresno County district attorney's officials said Wednesday that both police shootings are under investigation, as is standard in such cases.
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