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Watsonville police shoot murder suspect outside police station

Watsonville police have released body camera footage showing an officer shooting a man armed with a knife who was charging at the officer. On Aug. 23, Joshua Gonzalez drove into the parking lot of the Watsonville Police Department. Armed with a knife, Gonzalez contacted dispatch at 9:19 p.m. and threatened to harm his three-year-old stepdaughter. The first officer to arrive on the scene repeatedly ordered Gonzalez to drop his weapon. Police say that's when Gonzalez charged at the officer, who opened fire. The officer fired five shots. Video released by Watsonville Police shows Gonzalez talking to dispatch: “Oh yeah, I have a child here. I'm in the police station parking lot. She's in danger. I have a knife.” Then, what sounds like a child is heard in the background. The dispatcher asks “why she's in danger.” To which Gonzalez responds, “Because I have a knife and I'm a dangerous guy.” FULL VIDEO Bodycam video from the first officer shows him telling Gonzalez to drop the knife. Gonzalez can be seen charging at the officer and the officer can be heard firing five shots before the suspect falls to the ground. Gonzalez is then arrested and taken to a hospital for his injuries. The toddler was unharmed and placed in the care of other family members. Gonzalez's partner, Lizbeth Arceo Sedano, 25, was reported missing that same night. Her body was found at 9:40 a.m. Sunday at the corner of Eureka Canyon Road and Grizzly Flat Road. The cause of death was determined to be multiple stab wounds to the upper torso, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. After Gonzalez was released from the hospital, he was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail by Watsonville Police. He is charged with attempted murder of a police officer, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, endangering a child and attempting to obstruct a senior police officer in the execution of his duty. Gonzalez is scheduled to appear in court on August 28, 2024. If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, call the free mental health hotline on 988. Find more coverage of the Central Coast's top news stories here | Download our app | Download Very Local

WATSONVILLE, Calif. —

Watsonville Police have released body camera footage showing an officer shooting a man armed with a knife who was charging at the officer.

On August 23, Joshua Gonzalez drove into the parking lot of the Watsonville Police Department. Armed with a knife, Gonzalez contacted dispatch at 9:19 p.m. and threatened to harm his three-year-old stepdaughter.

The first officer to arrive on the scene repeatedly ordered Gonzalez to drop his weapon. At that point, Gonzalez charged at the officer, who then opened fire. The officer fired five shots.

The video released by Watsonville police shows Gonzalez talking to dispatch: “Oh yes, I have a child here. I'm in the parking lot of the police station. She's in danger. I have a knife.”

Then you hear noises in the background that sound like a child.

The dispatcher asks “why she is in danger.”

To which Gonzalez replies: “Because I have a knife and I’m a dangerous guy.”

FULL VIDEO

The first officer's bodycam video shows him ordering Gonzalez to drop the knife. Gonzalez can be seen charging toward the officer and the officer can be heard firing five shots before the suspect falls to the ground.

Gonzalez is subsequently arrested and taken to a hospital for his injuries.

The toddler was unharmed and was handed over to the care of other family members.

Gonzalez's partner, Lizbeth Arceo Sedano, 25, was reported missing that same night. Her body was found at 9:40 a.m. Sunday at the corner of Eureka Canyon Road and Grizzly Flat Road.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office determined the cause of death to be multiple stab wounds to the upper body.

After Gonzalez was released from the hospital, he was arrested by Watsonville Police and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail. He was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, endangering a child, and attempting to obstruct a senior police officer in the execution of his duty.

Gonzalez is scheduled to be arraigned on August 28, 2024.

If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts, call the toll-free mental health hotline at 988.

For more reports on the most important issues on the Central Coast, click here | Download our app | Download Very Local

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