On Wednesday, October 10 at 11:17 p.m., Santa Clara Police officers responded to two 911 calls regarding family violence. A 41-year-old son was allegedly having an altercation with his 66-year-old father inside their apartment in the 1300 block of Reeve Street.
Responding officers mediated the family conflict, initially ending the altercation. Neither the father nor the son was injured and additional police presence was not requested.
As officers began leaving the scene, they heard loud yelling from inside the same apartment. The officers returned immediately, entering through the open front door to find the father and son, armed with a knife, scuffling with each other.
Allegedly refusing repeated officer commands to drop the knife, three officers opened fire on the son, fearing for the father’s life as the son was raising the knife in a threatening manner. Emergency medical personnel were immediately called to the scene, where paramedics pronounced the son dead at the scene.
The name of the son is being withheld until his identity is confirmed by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office. According to a press release, the officers involved are 10, 12, and 16 year veterans of the Santa Clara Police Department. Their names are being withheld at this time and they have been placed on administrative leave, as per standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
The investigation is ongoing and being conducted jointly with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Todd Cummins at 408-615-4813.