Deputies shoot, kill knife-wielding suspect in Caruthers after he charges at them

Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives and the district attorney’s office were investigating Tuesday evening after three deputies shot and killed a man who charged at them with a knife in Caruthers, the second shooting incident involving a deputy in as many days.

Sheriff’s dispatchers received a call of a man brandishing a knife at the fairgrounds across from Caruthers High around 5:30 p.m., where the .suspect had tried contacting student-athletes.

Two coaches confronted the suspect, who then pulled out a knife.

“Those coaches attempted to keep a visual on the suspect as he moved away down the street,” said Fresno County Sheriff’s Captain John Reynolds. “During that time another parent got involved and attempted to make contact with the suspect. At that time the suspect produced a different knife than the first one and attempted to stab the parent in the abdomen area.”

The suspect then headed toward a nearby strip mall at Tahoe and Marsh avenues. Deputies contacted the suspect in front of a laundromat. He did not comply with numerous commands to drop his weapons and surrender and deputies deployed less-lethal bean bags, which struck the suspect but were ineffective.

“For approximately nine to 10 minutes deputies tried to deescalate the situation and get the suspect to drop his knife and comply,” Reynolds said. “He failed to do so. At one point the suspect stood up, produced presumably that second knife, a larger knife, from his back area, and charged the deputies.”

Three deputies fired their weapons, striking the suspect multiple times.

The deputies administered first aid until EMS personnel arrived. The suspect, who was not identified by authorities Tuesday, was pronounced dead at the scene.

None of the deputies, student-athletes or parents who confronted the suspect were injured.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information or video of the incident to contact Detective Aurelio Flores at 559-600-8208 or Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 or valleycrimestoppers.org. Callers will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. The reference number for the case is 23-5635.

On Monday, a deputy shot a man wielding an ax and a machete southwest of Fresno after less-lethal bean bag rounds proved ineffective in disarming the suspect.

The deputy fired multiple shots and hit the man, Jose Juan Piz, in the leg.

Piz, 49, was transported to Community Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries and later booked into Fresno County jail on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and threatening violence upon a peace officer, as well as weapons possession and vandalism.

This story was originally published May 16, 2023 at 7:43 PM.