Fresno police shot a woman in the head Thursday morning after she held another woman hostage with a knife near Manchester Center, authorities said.
The incident unfolded around 10:23 a.m. when a FAX bus driver reported a woman with a large fixed-blade knife making suicidal statements at the FAX terminal near Blackstone and Shields avenues, according to Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama. Officers responded and located the suspect, described as a Hispanic woman in her 40s who appeared to be in distress.
Police said the woman refused repeated orders to drop the knife and instead approached another woman from behind, holding the weapon to her neck. The primary officer on scene fired one shot, striking the suspect in the head. Both the suspect and hostage fell to the ground, officials said.
Officers quickly disarmed the suspect, handcuffed her, and provided medical aid before transporting her to Community Regional Medical Center. As of Thursday evening, she remained in critical condition. The hostage was unharmed during the incident.
Chief Balderrama stated that the suspect’s actions left officers with no choice but to use deadly force to protect the hostage’s life. “This was an extremely dangerous situation where immediate action was required,” he said.
The shooting is under investigation, and police have not released further details about the suspect’s condition or motives. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic but commended officers for their swift response.
The Fresno Police Department urged anyone with additional information about the incident to contact investigators.
About The Author
