Authorities are investigating an incident in which a suspect wielding a kitchen knife was shot by Morgan Hill Police at a Safeway grocery early in the morning April 18.
About 12:20am, MHPD officers responded to the store at 840 East Dunne Ave. to investigate a report of a disturbance, says a press release from Morgan Hill Police. The suspect was reportedly carrying a large kitchen knife and a wine bottle, and refused the store employees’ requests to leave.
When officers arrived they contacted the suspect, Shaun Hillman, 40, of Van Nuys, police said. Officers asked Hillman several times to drop the knife, which he refused. Hillman then began to run around the store armed with the knife and wine bottle.
As officers walked down an aisle, they located a victim who was bleeding from a head wound, police said. The victim told officers he had been stabbed, though it was determined later that Hillman had struck the victim on the head with a bottle of wine. Hillman also allegedly stole the victim’s box cutter.
Officers continued to gain Hillman’s cooperation and de-escalate the altercation for several minutes, after which the suspect charged toward police while throwing wine bottles toward them, MHPD said.
Sgt. Scott Silva then discharged his firearm at Hillman, but the round did not strike him, according to MHPD. Hillman then ran to the rear of the store, where another officer contacted him.
Hillman continued to ignore police commands while advancing toward Corp. Eddy Gutierrez, throwing more wine bottles and other objects, MHPD Capt. Mario Ramirez said. Gutierrez shot Hillman to avoid being attacked.
Police said Hillman continued to resist until he was subdued by “a team of officers.”
The officers treated Hillman with first aid immediately after they subdued him, and he was transported to a local hospital, police said. He was listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries as of April 22.
The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment of a head injury. No officers were injured in the incident.
Silva is a 25-year veteran of MHPD, and Gutierrez has been a police officer for eight years, Ramirez said.
MHPD said it will release a video of the incident within 30 days after the April 18 shooting.
Anyone who saw the incident or has more information can call MHPD Det. Adrian Sapient at 669.253.4995 or email Ad***********@***********ca.gov.
Surprisingl for what is otherwise a peaceful and great place to live