Man suspected of attacking officer, stabbing person fatally shot by Moreno Valley police

A man suspected of attacking a police officer in one Moreno Valley location and then stabbing a person at another was fatally shot by officers early Thursday, a Riverside County sheriff’s spokesman said.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was holding an “unknown object” as he walked toward officers near Perris and Sunnymead boulevards around 6 a.m. and was shot. He was declared dead at the scene.

The incident began around 3 a.m. when Moreno Valley police responded to a report of a mentally ill person assaulting a family member in the 25000 block of Fir Avenue, said Riverside County sheriff’s Deputy Michael Vasquez. The suspect attacked an officer sent to investigate and fled, he said.

The officer was taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries.

About three hours later, police responded to a stabbing call in the area of Webster Avenue and Perris Boulevard, where they found a wounded person, Vasquez said. The victim was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Moments later, officers encountered a man near Perris and Sunnymead and determined that he was the same person who attacked the officer from the earlier call.

The suspect, Vazquez said, refused to put down the item he was holding and advanced toward officers, at least one of whom opened fire. No officers were injured.

The shooting is currently under investigation, Vasquez said.

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