OXNARD POLICE SHOOT MACHETE-WIELDING SUSPECT OUTSIDE EL FORTIN RESTAURANT

An afternoon lunch in Oxnard turned into a violent scene on Monday, April 20, 2026, when police shot a man allegedly armed with a machete outside a popular local eatery.

The incident began just after noon near the busy intersection of Saviers and Pleasant Valley roads. Dispatchers received multiple reports of a man acting erratically and threatening bystanders with a machete in a nearby parking lot.

Witnesses reported that the suspect entered Restaurant El Fortin on West Pleasant Valley Road while still armed. Officers from the Oxnard Police Department arrived and located the man inside the establishment.

Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, the suspect remained uncooperative. The situation escalated into an officer-involved shooting, with police firing multiple rounds that struck the suspect.

Following the gunfire, the suspect reportedly continued to resist, leading officers to deploy a police K-9 to assist in taking him into custody. The police dog sustained minor injuries during the struggle but has since received treatment and is recovering.

The suspect was rushed to Ventura County Medical Center and is currently listed in critical but stable condition. No officers or bystanders were injured in the exchange.

The involved officer has been placed on standard administrative leave while the Oxnard Police Department's Major Crimes Unit and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office conduct a joint investigation. Body-worn camera footage of the incident exists and is expected to be released during a future community debriefing.

Nearby business owners and residents expressed shock at the violence, noting that the area is typically a busy commercial hub for lunchtime shoppers and laundromat customers.