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Man Shot, Killed By Fullerton Police After Stabbing K9

FULLERTON (CBSLA) – A man was shot to death by officers after allegedly stabbing a police K9 following a domestic violence incident in Fullerton Wednesday night.

Man Shot, Killed By Fullerton Police After Stabbing K9
A man was shot and killed by police in Fullerton, Calif., after allegedly stabbing a police K9. May 28, 2020. (CBSLA)

The incident occurred at around 10 p.m. in 3600 block of West Avenue.

Officers responded to a domestic violence call learned that a man had pulled a knife on his two teen children, Fullerton police report.

As officers got on scene they witnessed several friends and family members fleeing the house, with the suspect emerging carrying a large knife, police said.

After refusing commands to drop the knife, the suspect tried to reenter the house, which was believed to contain more family members.

Man Shot, Killed By Fullerton Police After Stabbing K9
A knife recovered from the scene of a stabbing in Fullerton, Calif., on May 27, 2020. A man was shot and killed by police after allegedly stabbing a police K9. (Fullerton Police Department)

That prompted officers to deploy a K9 on the suspect, who stabbed the dog and was then shot by officers, police said.

He was rushed to a hospital, where he died. The knife he was carrying was recovered at the scene.

The K9 underwent emergency surgery and a veterinary hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, police said.

A friend who was at the home when the disturbance broke out identified the armed man to CBSLA as 31-year-old Hector Hernandez.

"He would never heard a fly, its really unfortunate the police had to take the measurements they did," Victor Espinoza told CBSLA.

Espinoza admitted that Hernandez had been drinking,  but he questions why police didn't use other types of force before opening fire.

"Never needed to end this way, not at all," Espinoza said.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office is investigating, which is protocol in officer-involved shootings.

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