OXNARD, California -- Newly released body camera video shows an Oxnard police officer shoot and wound a teen who charged at him while holding a knife last week.
Officer responded to reports of a 17-year-old girl with a knife in the area of 1835 San Gorgonio and behind the Carl's Jr. on the 400 block of North Rose Avenue in the morning hours of May 3, according to a news release.
The teen, who was described as wearing a red shirt and blue shorts and was reported as seeming "disturbed" and was walking around and waving the knife. The caller also indicated the she was possibly armed with a gun. The caller contacted dispatch three more times and stated that the teen was becoming "increasingly worse" and that she was screaming and threatening people.
Oxnard Police Officer Timothy Roberts arrived on scene first, and made verbal contact with the teen in the dirt field behind the business. She approached the officer and brandished a large kitchen knife. Roberts drew his handgun and made several verbal requests for her to drop the weapon.
The teen ignored his commands and began to advance on the officer. Roberts retreated in an attempt to create space between the two and continued to give the teen verbal commands to drop the weapon as he retreated backwards through the parking lot.
As a second officer arrived on scene and was retrieving a "beanbag" shotgun, the teen ran directly towards Roberts with the knife in her hand. The officer fired his weapon, and the female was struck by gunfire. Officers promptly rendered first aid to her until medical personnel arrived on scene.
Detectives discovered evidence that supports the position that the teen deliberately intended to be shot by an officer.
The teen, who has not yet been identified, is in an area hospital in "critical but stable" condition.
The Oxnard Police Department's Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.
