KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Suicide Attempt Turns Into Officer Involved Shooting In Easton

Suicide Attempt Turns Into Officer Involved Shooting In Easton

By Winston Whitehurst

An officer-involved shooting broke out south of Fresno this morning, after deputies say they had to stop a man from killing himself.

It happened in Easton, on the 6500 block of South Walnut, where a man in his fifties threatened to shoot himself in his backyard.

Family members said he fired several rounds earlier in the day.

Investigators says he shot at a deputy, after two hours of negotiations.

Deputies fired back and hit him with a shotgun round.

Despite the injury, the man fled.

He was brought down with a taser and a beanbag gun, and treated at the hospital, after being taken into custody.

Deputies say it's a good thing his family got out of the house in time.

"Well I think you have somebody in the family who's firing off rounds, threatening to kill himself, he doesn't care about himself, so he obviously doesn't care about anyone else. So obviously, for the safety of the family, we got them out of there as quickly as possible," said Chris Curtice, of the Fresno County Sheriffs Department.

Deputies say the man has a history of mental illness.

The investigation continues.