Officers spotted him on the street and he took off running into his house.
Police say he opened up his gate and a large pit bull charged at them. The dog was shot and killed.
Police say the suspect then took off running into another house.
"The officers contact him, there's some type of confrontation, don't know what that is yet, and he is shot and dies at the scene," said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department.
The suspect was declared dead at the scene. Police said a knife was found next to the body.
No officers were hurt.
