Double-Stabbing Suspect Shot Dead By Santa Cruz Co. Deputy Was 15 Years Old

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA – A knife-wielding 15-year-old boy accused Saturday morning of stabbing two people just north of Watsonville was killed when a Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy shot him, according to sheriff's officials.

Initial news reports described the deceased individual as a "man."

The incident began around 3 a.m. when officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the 800 block of Amesti Road, sheriff's officials said.

Upon arrival, officers found two people suffering from stab wounds. One of the victims suffered critical injuries, while another suffered serious injuries, according to sheriff's officials.

The two victims were taken to a hospital.

Deputies then searched for the suspect, but he had already fled the scene.

About 10 minutes later, deputies found the boy nearby, still armed with a knife. Deputies tried to engage the youth and used various less-lethal weapons to try to detain him, sheriff's officials said.

But the boy advanced on deputies with the knife and a deputy shot at him at least once, according to sheriff's officials.

Paramedics treated the boy, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff's officials said.

The identity of the boy not been released.

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--Bay City News/Image via SCCSO