Joanna Lopez Obituary, Death; – Authorities have identified a woman who was shot by a police officer while she was brandishing a knife at an innocent bystander in Fresno last week.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at the Fax Transit Center, located on Blackstone Avenue near Shields Avenue. According to the Fresno Police Department, 39-year-old Joanna Lopez threatened a woman with the knife and refused to relinquish it.
An officer discharged a single round, striking Lopez in the head. She was transported to a local hospital, where she remains in critical condition as of Monday. The bystander was not reported to have sustained any visible injuries.
Officials have indicated that Lopez had been expressing suicidal thoughts prior to the shooting. The officer involved in the incident has been placed on standard paid administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
