Death by Cop 2021-2025
Search fatalities
You can use any or all of the fields to refine the search.
Joseph Merical
Gender : Male
Age : 35
Race : White
Date : 08/24/2025
Location : Apartment complex near Blythe and Austin Avenue
City : Fresno
County : Fresno
State : California
Agency : Fresno Police Department
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during domestic disturbance call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/24/2025 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Fresno Police responded to a domestic disturbance at an apartment complex near Blythe and Austin Avenue. Joseph Merical, 35, barricaded himself inside the apartment with two kitchen knives. When officers partially forced open the door, he moved toward them with the knives. A standoff followed with negotiators and SWAT at the scene. Hours later, Merical exited the apartment and moved toward officers in the parking lot while still holding the knives. Police fired non-lethal weapons followed by bullets. Merical was struck, taken to a hospital, and pronounced dead. This was the fifth police shooting in Fresno this year.
