The Fresno Police Department has released video of an officer-involved shooting that left a man dead on the afternoon of Aug. 23.

The video can be seen here.

Viewer note: video contains graphic content. 

About the Incident

Officers were dispatched around 1:45 p.m. to an apartment near Blythe Avenue and Austin Way following a domestic violence report involving Joseph Merical, 35.

The victim told police her husband, Merical, was still inside and might harm himself, saying he did not want to return to prison.

Police previously reported that Merical barricaded the apartment door, climbed on furniture, and armed himself with two large kitchen knives.

He attempted to stab an officer as they partly forced open the door. Crisis negotiators and S.W.A.T. officers responded, but Merical refused commands for several hours and made obscene gestures at officers.

Merical eventually ran out of the apartment with both knives and walked quickly down a staircase toward officers in the parking lot.

Officers first fired less-lethal rounds, which failed to stop him, and then used lethal force. He was struck by gunfire and later died at a hospital, police said in a previous statement.

Two knives were recovered at the scene, police said.

Police said the domestic violence victim sustained minor injuries in the initial assault, and her child was not harmed. No officers were injured during the incident, authorities added.

The department said the investigation is ongoing. Findings will be submitted to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, Internal Affairs, and the Office of Independent Review.

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