Irvine Police Fatally Shoot Knife-Wielding Man After He Kills Woman in Broad Daylight

Suspected attacker reportedly just released from prison, motive under investigation.

Irvine, CA – A knife-wielding man who had recently been released from prison was shot and killed by Irvine police on Thursday afternoon after he fatally stabbed a woman in a residential neighborhood, according to authorities.

The incident unfolded around 2:50 p.m. when a bystander alerted 911 to a violent attack occurring near Green Tree Lane and Coral Tree Lane, said Irvine Police Department spokesperson Kyle Oldoerp.

Upon arrival, officers found the man actively stabbing the woman in the middle of the roadway. At least one officer discharged their weapon, neutralizing the suspect. Both the victim and the suspect were declared dead at the scene.

While the identities of those involved have not yet been released, a neighbor, Dave King, said he heard six gunshots from inside his home. "I was on a Zoom call for work. I hung up, secured my house, and made sure my daughter was safe," King recounted. He later observed the suspect lying motionless on a driveway, with the victim nearby.

Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the brutal stabbing, but initial reports suggest that the suspect and the victim may have been related. King speculated that they were mother and son, adding that the son had recently been released from prison and was living at the family home.

This marks the second police shooting in Irvine this week. On Monday, officers shot and killed Aaron Matthew, 47, after he fatally stabbed his former charge, a disabled man named John Alexander Bash III. Matthew confronted police with a knife, which led to the fatal shooting.

Despite these tragic incidents, Irvine officials maintain that the city remains one of the safest in the country. Irvine has long been recognized for having the lowest per capita violent crime rate among cities with populations over 250,000, earning it the title "America’s Safest City."

“It’s still a great city. This happens everywhere, all over the country. It’d be more concerning if it was random. But it’s not. It’s targeted,” Brad Hoffman, a nearby resident, told the Orange County Register.