The family of a man shot and killed by Fullerton police after he stabbed a police dog with a knife want all footage of the incident from officer-worn body cameras to be released.
Police responded to a family disturbance call in the 3600 block of West Avenue, near Magnolia Avenue, about 10 p.m. on May 27 and while en route they were told the man had gotten a gun and fired several shots, according to Sgt. Eric Bridges of the Fullerton Police Department.
When officers arrived, several people ran out of the home, followed moments later by the suspect, identified as Hector Hernandez, armed with a knife. Hernandez refused orders to drop the knife and as he turned to go back into the home, a police dog was sent in to try to take him into custody. Hernandez stabbed the dog, prompting an officer-involved shooting and he was hit, Bridges said.
Hernandez family attorney, Garo Mardirossian, told reporters Thursday, Hector complied with officers’ orders prior to the shooting.
“They told him to put his hands up and he put his hands up,” Mardirossian said. “He held his hands up until they let the vicious dog loose on him and he had to bring his hand down to try to defend himself.”
Mardirossian said Hernandez was never a threat.
“He came out (of the house) and fired shots into the air,” Mardirossian said. “Never shot anyone. No one was afraid of him.”
Officers performed life-saving measures on Hernandez until he was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A knife was recovered at the scene.
The dog was rushed to an animal hospital, where he underwent surgery and was expected to make a full recovery, Bridges said.
The Hernandez family wants all footage from officers’ body-worn cameras to be released, Mardirossian said.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office was investigating the shooting, part of the protocol for an officer-involved shooting.
Fullerton police had no comment on the request from the Hernandez family.
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