Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting in Grass Valley, Nevada County Sheriff says
Police in Grass Valley shot and killed a man in a confrontation Wednesday afternoon near the corner of Oak Street and Walker Drive.
UPDATE: Victim identified as 25-year-old Gabriel Strickland as officials give more details
In a news release, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said it initially received reports of a man walking down Squirrel Creek Road near Adam Avenue with a shotgun slung over his shoulder.
The scene of the shooting was just west of city limits near Condon Park in the 10600 block of Oak Street. Oak Street and Walker Drive were closed at Squirrel Creek Road by the California Highway Patrol.
The shooting occurred around 12:55 p.m. when an armed suspect wearing gray sweatpants approached officers, according to police and fire radio traffic.
Jon Seeley, a resident who lives near the scene of the shooting, said he was in his yard when he heard shouts from the street that gradually escalated as officers began to yell “drop the weapon” repeatedly.
Seeley said he went out and saw multiple officers, with at least one pointing a gun at the suspect, who was standing in the street.
The Sheriff’s Office said multiple requests to drop his weapon were ignored by the suspect.
Seeley said he first heard the popping of stun guns being deployed, then several gunshots. He said he heard about five rounds fired by the officers.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that attempts to incapacitate the suspect with a Taser were ineffective, so officers opened fire, fatally striking the man.
Another neighbor had apparently seen this suspect earlier, Seeley said, armed with what appeared to be a rifle.
Seeley said he heard the man telling officers “You don’t care. You don’t know what I’ve been through.” Radio traffic also indicated the man told officers he wanted to be shot.
The Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was known to law enforcement. In previous contacts, he had made “suicide by cop” statements, and he previously had a gun taken from him by law enforcement for safekeeping.
After the suspect went down, officers began attempting first aid. He was taken to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
The identity of the victim will be released pending notification of next of kin.
This story was originally published January 1, 2020 at 2:29 PM.
