20-Year-Old Fatally Shot By Police ID'd; Father Says Son Posed No Real Threat, Report Says

IRVINE, CA — Authorities identified the 20-year-old man who was shot to death by police while experiencing a mental health crisis Wednesday.

The man was identified as Daniel Meltvedt, of Irvine, according to the Irvine Police Department.

Meltvedt called 911 to report he was having a mental health crisis and was later shot to death by police Tuesday, July 21 after he ran toward officers with a knife, police said.

The incident happened in Irvine's Turtle Rock neighborhood, in the area of Silkwood and Sungate.

Erich Meltvedt, a documentary filmmaker who lives in the Turtle Rock neighborhood and identified himself as the father of Daniel, told The Orange County Register that his son was autistic and posed no real threat to police.

According to the newspaper, Meltvedt said he watched "in vain" during the long crisis negotiations as officers surrounded his son and ultimately shot him.

Irvine police got the call around noon from the man, who reported he was suffering from a mental health crisis and armed with a knife, according to the Irvine Police Department.

They negotiated with the man for more than an hour while Orange County Fire Authority firefighters and the Irvine Community Alternative Response and Engagement Team stood by, ready to provide medical and mental health services.

Finally, "the man charged at officers while holding the knife, and an officer-involved shooting occurred," Ziggy Azarcon of the Irvine Police Department said. "The man was struck by gunfire, and officers immediately rendered life-saving measures."

Irvine police detectives and the Orange County District Attorney's Office were investigating the shooting, Azarcon said.