Omar Ventura, 23, of Porterville, California, was shot and killed by a Porterville police officer on December 24, 2015. Officers had responded to a 911 call from Ventura’s girlfriend reporting a violent domestic disturbance; she told dispatch Ventura had assaulted her and his mother and damaged a vehicle. When Officer Jennifer Rutledge arrived Ventura had left but returned holding a knife and approached his girlfriend. Rutledge fired two shots after repeated commands to drop the knife; Ventura was taken to Sierra View Medical Center and pronounced dead.

The shooting prompted separate reviews by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department and the Porterville Police Department to determine whether lethal force was justified and whether department protocols were followed. Officer Rutledge was placed on paid administrative leave. Investigators noted Ventura had prior contacts with law enforcement, including gang involvement, family disturbances, DUI, felony assault, and resisting arrest, but those records did not explain his actions that day.

Does anyone have additional information about the incident or knew Ventura, his girlfriend, or the family involved?