Man Shot by Fremont Police Last Month Dies After Release From Hospital

A Fremont man who was shot by police last month outside his home after he charged at officers with a kitchen knife has died, police announced this afternoon. 54-year-old Troy Francis was hospitalized following the July 20 incident and had remained hospitalized until he was released to his family on Tuesday, according to police.

The Alameda County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of Francis’ death. Officers responded to Francis’ home in the 4700 block of Baffin Avenue at 6:52 p.m. on July 20 after Francis’ wife and another woman who lives with the couple ran from the house and called 911, police said. The women told dispatchers Francis had chased them from the home with an 8-inch butcher knife, threatening to hurt them and himself.

The women said he remained on the front porch with the knife, according to police. The two responding officers, identified as Officers Timothy Ferrara and Marrkel Smith, found Francis on the home’s front lawn when they arrived. He allegedly charged at the officers with the knife and did not obey numerous commands to stop and drop the weapon, police said. Both officers opened fire, striking Francis.

Police have not disclosed how many times he was hit by gunfire or where. Other officers arriving as the gunfire broke out rendered emergency medical aid, police said. Francis was taken to a hospital for surgery.

Neither of the officers was injured. Ferrara is a 10-year veteran of the department and Smith is a 6-year veteran and crime scene investigator, police said. Both officers remain on administrative leave.

By Bay City News