May 16, 2023 - Fresno County Sheriff's Office officials report that around 12:00 p.m. on Monday, a worker performing a service along the 3300 block of Beran Way (W. Central & S. Valentine area of Fresno), saw a man holding a machete and acting strange.  The worker called Sheriff's dispatchers to have deputies contact the man.  To avoid potential problems, the worker drove away.  While doing so, the suspect chased after the worker and struck his vehicle with the machete multiple times.

The suspect retreated to the area he originally came from, went behind a fence and retrieved an axe to go along with his machete.  Deputies arrived and contacted the suspect as he was swinging the weapons.  He refused the deputies commands to drop the axe and machete and began to challenge them.  Deputies fired less lethal bean bags at the suspect, but they were ineffective.  The armed suspect lunged toward deputies and one fired his gun, striking the suspect in the leg.  The deputies gave the suspect medical treatment until an ambulance arrived and transported the suspect to the hospital.  He is expected to survive.

The suspect's name is not available for release at this time.  He is believed to be in his late 40s or early 50s and lives in the area he was contacted.  He will later be booked into jail and have charges placed on him.

No deputies or citizens were injured.

Sheriff's homicide detectives and investigators with the Fresno County District Attorney's Office are now conducting a full investigation into this deputy involved shooting.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to please contact Detective Rudy Tafoya at (559) 600-8207 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867, www.valleycrimestoppers.org.  You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Source & photos: Fresno County Sheriff's Office