A suspect has died after shooting himself at Community Regional Medical Center with a Fresno Police officer’s gun, chief Mindy Casto says.
Casto says the suspect, a 32-year-old Fresno man, was involved in organized retail theft and impersonating an officer incidents incidents.
Investigators had met with the man at the northwest Fresno police station in preperation for serving a search warrant at his home on Monday. When officer’s attempted to take him into custody, Casto says he resisted.
A fight broke out and the suspect was tased four times while he tried to arm himself with what they later found was a loaded firearm in his bag that was recovered after the fight.
Since the man was tased, per the department’s policy, he was taken to CRMC for treatment.
During a bathroom break at the hospital, the suspect suddenly attacked an officer and was able to disarm his holstered firearm.
“Within split seconds, he was able to shoot himself in the head with the firearm,” Casto says.
Live-saving measures were provided but the man was pronounced dead at the hospital.
No officers or CRMC employeess were injured.
Casto says the suspect did have prior law enforcement experience but not with Fresno Police.
The officer whose gun was used will be placed on administrative leave.
Stay with ABC30 for the latest details on this developing story.