Anaheim police fatally shoot laundromat stabbing suspect

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- Anaheim police fatally shot a woman accused of stabbing another woman at an area laundromat on Sunday.

The suspect allegedly stabbed a woman at a laundromat at Ball Road and Euclid Street Sunday afternoon before fleeing the scene, police said. The victim was treated for minor injuries.

Witnesses pointed out the suspect to officers, who found her at an apartment building about a block away.

Anaheim police said the suspect returned to her apartment and refused to come out. Neighbors told Eyewitness News that they heard officers on a loud speaker ordering her to surrender before multiple shots were fired.

"A female emerged from that apartment armed with two knives and during that contact with officers that's when the officer-involved shooting occurred," Anaheim Police Lt. Bob Dunn said.

Photo courtesy of Joel Reyes

Witness Amber Valadez said she watched the deadly shooting unfold from across the street and didn't see the knives.

"I saw the door open. I didn't see anything in her hands. I didn't know she had anything in her hands. Within seconds after that, the cops just started shooting," Valadez said.

The suspect was struck and taken to a hospital, where she died. No officers were injured.

Neighbor Jason Mercado said he didn't hear the officers tell the woman to drop the knives.

"What the cops did today was a bit excessive, compared to somebody with a knife and you guys got 9, 10 guns drawn on somebody," Mercado said.

Neighbors said they saw the woman everyday walking her dog, but she kept to herself and lived alone. They had also seen officers at her unit in the last few weeks for unknown reasons. Residents say unfortunately crime and police activity are common in their neighborhood.

"We don't live in the best area, so it's not really that shocking to us," Valadez said. "At the same time, the fact that it does happen so close to home, it's scary."

Surveillance cameras were inside the laundromat. The officers also had on body cameras. Those videos will be part of the Orange County district attorney's investigation.