35-year-old domestic violence suspect shot and killed by Fresno police identified

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A home unit incidental turned deadly.

Police responded to a home disturbance astatine West Pointe Apartments successful northwest Fresno connected Saturday.

"When officers arrived connected scene, they contacted the victim, who advised them that her fellow had strangled her unconscious and that she escaped the flat with her babe wherever she called 911," says Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto.

Officers tried to get into the apartment, but the doorway was blocked.

Chief Casto says officers were capable to get wrong but the suspect, who has been identified arsenic 35-year-old Joseph Merical, was swinging knives astatine officers.

Police repositioned themselves and tried to get Merical retired of the apartment.

Chief Casto says the fishy refused, lone to exit the flat respective hours aft negotiations with police.

"He charged down the stairs from the second-story flat towards officers, equipped with 2 knives," Casto said. "At which clip they played little lethal ammunition. That was not successful, and lethal unit was used."

Merical was taken to the hospital, wherever helium aboriginal died.

Gisela Merical says the 2 were married. She has acceptable up a donation leafage to assistance with ceremonial costs.

On the website, she describes him arsenic loyal, joyful and afloat of life.

In the post, Merical is besides said to person suffered from terrible slump and mediocre intelligence health.

Action News has uncovered tribunal documents that uncover the fishy was convicted of home violence-related charges successful 2023 and sentenced to implicit 3 years successful authorities prison.

"The hardest portion erstwhile you perceive astir the circumstances is, it's the worst lawsuit scenario," says CEO of the Marjorie Mason Center, Nicole Linder.

Linder hasn't helped the unfortunate successful this case, but her enactment helps others who find themselves successful a home dispute.

She says the halfway receives much than 800 calls a month, and she wants those successful an abusive narration to cognize there's assistance available.

"Reach retired for help, cognize that determination are radical who enactment you and privation to supply you a beingness that you deserve," Linder said.

If you are the unfortunate of home abuse, oregon you cognize idiosyncratic who is, determination is assistance disposable 24/7. In Fresno County, telephone the Marjaree Mason Center astatine (559) 233-4357. In each different locations, telephone the National Domestic Violence Hotline astatine (800) 799-7233.

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