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On June 15, 2024, at 5:04 am, Fullerton Police Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call regarding a male armed with knives and threatening people in the 200 block of E. Imperial Hwy. The reporting party told the call taker he was a victim of weapon brandishing and to send multiple officers due to the male’s dangerous behavior.

 Fullerton Police Officers arrived on scene and contacted a male adult, matching the provided description, holding what appeared to be a knife in each hand. The male was directed multiple times to drop his weapons, however, was uncooperative with the commands given to him. The male suddenly began running towards officers with the knives in his hands and failed to comply with commands to stop. An officer involved shooting then occurred.

 A subsequent investigation revealed the cell phone was registered to Mr. Hills and that it was the same cell phone used to make the 9-1-1 call that initiated the police response to this incident.

 Based on the fact Mr. Hills called the Fullerton Police Department to report a male -- who matched his own description -- was brandishing knives and whose actions ultimately led to the officer-involved shooting, it is believed Mr. Hills intentionally provoked a deadly police encounter, commonly referred to as "suicide-by-cop."

In an effort to be transparent with the community that we serve, the Fullerton Police Department is releasing its Critical Incident Community Briefing, which will provide details to the community about the incident, as we know them today. This includes Body Worn Camera (BWC) video footage from the incident itself, still photos, and police radio traffic.

Please keep in mind this is an initial review, and our understanding of this incident could possibly change as additional evidence is collected, analyzed, and reviewed. The Fullerton Police Department also does not draw any conclusions as to whether or not our officers acted within our department policy, and the law, until all the facts are known, and the independent investigation by the Orange County’s District Attorney’s Office is complete.

With the July 1, 2019 implementation of California Assembly Bill 748, California police agencies are required to release any relevant video or audio pertaining to the critical incident within 45 days. The California State Legislature allows for this 45-day release timeframe because there is an understanding that critical incidents are often complex, sensitive investigations, and it takes time to complete them in a thorough manner.

As a reminder, while body worn cameras are an excellent investigative tool, they do not always show what the officers may have seen, and vice versa, the officers don’t always see and experience what the body camera footage shows. We ask that the community keep this in mind when viewing these videos.

Fullerton Police Chief Jon Radus met with Mr. Hills’ family earlier today and provided them with an opportunity to view this Critical Incident Community Briefing prior to its release.

Please be advised, the images and content of this Critical Incident Community Briefing are graphic, and viewer discretion is advised.

https://www.cityoffullerton.com/Home/Components/News/News/421/1314