Oxnard Police Officers Shoot Man Who Advanced Towards Them With Scissors

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Oxnard, California — On Sunday, May 26, 2024, at approximately 11:26 p.m., Oxnard Police Department officers responded to multiple calls for service regarding a male subject walking in traffic in the area of Ventura Road and Doris Avenue. Caller information reported that the subject was holding a pair of scissors in his hand. One or more officers recognized the subject, 27-year-old Isaiah Nichols, and confirmed that he had an outstanding felony arrest warrant for attempted murder. This warrant was for an unrelated stabbing incident that occurred on May 17, 2024. During that incident, Nichols reportedly stabbed an adult female victim multiple times in the head, and then fled the scene.

The incident, which occurred on a public street in Oxnard, was captured on security camera video. When officers made contact with Nichols, he was holding kitchen shears in his hand, and did not comply with numerous repeated requests by officers, calling him by his name, to drop the weapon. The mobile encounter between Nichols and the officers made its way to the 500 block of North ‘N’ Street, and then back to North Ventura Road at Doris Avenue. During the encounter, officers deployed rounds from a less-lethal “bean bag” shotgun to subdue Nichols, and also made attempts with Tasers. These attempts were unsuccessful. While on Ventura Road near Doris Avenue, Nichols suddenly turned and advanced towards the officers, as he raised the scissors.

At this instant, an officer-involved shooting occurred. At the time of this news release, Nichols is being treated at a medical facility in Ventura County. Upon his release from treatment, Nichols is facing several criminal charges, including attempted murder (from the May 17 stabbing incident), as well as counts of assault with a deadly weapon upon a police officer. All of the involved officers are assigned to the Oxnard Police Department’s Patrol Division. All of the involved officers completed Crisis Intervention Team training. None of the officers involved have been involved in a previous shooting incident. At the time, all officers have been cleared to return to service in their respective assignments.