Woman Holding Therapist At Knifepoint Shot By Police

FULLERTON, CA — A woman, armed with a large knife, wounded her psychologist and barricaded herself inside the therapist's office early Thursday, cops said. Shortly thereafter, the victim was shot and killed by Fullerton police, according to reports.

A witness called Fullerton police to report a woman with a knife at 7:30 a.m. to the 1600 block of East Chapman Avenue, according to Fullerton police Sgt. Jon Radus. Moments later, the witness reported she had been stabbed by a patient in the office.

Police arrived within four minutes of the first call. When they entered the office they found the suspect and victim were barricaded in the 40- year-old therapist's office, Radus said.

Officers entered the room and confronted the knife-wielding suspect. An officer-involved shooting occurred, Radus said. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene and police recovered the "fairly large knife," Radus said.

The therapist injured in the knife assault was taken by ambulance to a local trauma center with non-life-threatening injuries, Radus said. The suspect's identity has not yet been released by the Orange County Coroner. The Orange County District Attorney's Office will investigate the shooting, which is standard protocol.

Fullerton Police Photo