Michael Reams, 47, died on July 14, 2014, in Fresno after a violent domestic incident in a subsidized housing tract on El Dorado Street near Highway 99. Officers responding to reports of a disturbance heard a woman screaming and a man threatening to stab her; Reams warned they would be killed if officers entered. Moments later the officers heard him say It’s too late and the screams stopped. Forced entry revealed Cindy Raygoza with multiple stab wounds to her chest. A confrontation followed and an officer shot Reams, who died at the scene.

Reams had a long history of domestic violence and criminal convictions, including an assault with a deadly weapon charge in 1990, misdemeanor domestic violence charges in 2001, and a 2002 conviction that led to a 12-year sentence for spousal abuse, assault, and making terrorist threats. After his release he continued to have violent incidents culminating in the 2014 killings.

A lawsuit filed after the killings accused the Fresno Police Department of failing to enforce domestic violence laws and not providing adequate protection to victims; the police chief defended the department’s efforts while acknowledging room for improvement. If anyone knew Cindy Raygoza or Michael Reams or has information about the events that night, please share what you can.