Menifee police officers on Wednesday, Aug. 20, shot to death a man who they say was suicidal and pointed a gun at them.
The two officers who fired the shots were not reported injured.
Police had responded to the 27000 block of Freedom Lane after someone reported that 57-year-old Dennis Martz was suicidal and armed.
Martz did not respond to officers’ attempts to contact him, a news release said. Crisis negotiators were also unsuccessful in reaching him.
Officers saw Martz in the backyard with several firearms, the release said.
“Martz pointed a firearm at officers and an officer-involved shooting occurred,” the release said.
Police and paramedics treated Martz, but he died, the release said.
On Thursday, Chase Coburn, a Police Department spokeswoman, did not have information on where officers were when they fired.
The officers were placed on paid administrative leave per department policy. The shooting will be investigated by the Riverside County Force Investigations Detail to determine whether the officers acted lawfully. Menifee police will conduct an internal investigation that will examine whether the officers followed department policy.
Originally Published:
