On April 3, 2024, authorities in Southern California reported that sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a 17-year-old boy with mental health issues after he armed himself with a knife and barricaded himself inside a bathroom at a home in Victorville. The teen had been undergoing treatment at a hospital after cutting himself and was being transferred to a mental health facility when the incident occurred.
Sheriff Dicus of San Bernardino County stated that the teen had caused trouble previously at the residence where his sisters resided, prompting a call to authorities to have him arrested. Upon deputies’ arrival, the teen locked himself inside the bathroom and refused to come out for about 30 minutes. When he threatened to harm himself, deputies forcibly entered the bathroom and attempted to apprehend him.
The boy was holding a knife during the encounter and ended up being shot by the deputies, ultimately leading to his death. Sheriff Dicus mentioned that both incidents involved violent encounters and called for better access to mental health services for troubled youth. He emphasized the need for options other than law enforcement in handling mental health crises.
