A 46-year-old man accused of attempted murder was shot by a Simi Valley police officer Thursday while he remained in custody at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, triggering a massive law enforcement response at the sprawling Ventura County facility.
The shooting happened around 12:20 p.m. on the fourth floor of the hospital near Janss and Lynn roads. Officials say the man had been under constant watch by a Simi Valley officer since being admitted for treatment following an earlier violent incident at his home.
A Night That Started With Stab Wounds
The chain of events began just before 1:30 a.m. Thursday, when Simi Valley police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2000 block of Clover Street. Officers arrived to find a husband and wife suffering from stab wounds inside the home, with blood found on the walls and floors.
Investigators recovered two knives and a machete during their search, though it remains unclear which weapon was used. A Simi Valley police sergeant said detectives are still working to determine whether one spouse was the aggressor, whether both were involved in the violence, or whether one attacked the other before turning a weapon on himself.
Police believe the man stabbed his wife before going outside and injuring himself. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken to Los Robles for treatment, while his wife was rushed into surgery and is expected to survive.
Neighbors described the couple as friendly and said they recently welcomed a granddaughter into the family, making the news of the attack especially hard to process.
Shooting Unfolds During Medical Assessment
More than ten hours after his arrest, the officer guarding the suspect noticed he needed additional medical attention and called for hospital staff to evaluate him. During that assessment, authorities say “an incident occurred” that led the officer to open fire, striking the man.
A source familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told the Los Angeles Times that the suspect grabbed a member of the medical staff just before the shooting. Officials have not released further details about what directly preceded the gunfire.
The wounded man was treated at the scene and is listed in stable condition. He remains in the custody of the Simi Valley Police Department. The officer involved was not injured.
Hospital administrators said no patients, staff, or visitors were harmed and that operations continued as normal throughout the response.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction over Thousand Oaks, is leading the investigation into the shooting with support from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, while Simi Valley police conduct a separate, parallel investigation into the original stabbing case.
Authorities have described the hospital shooting as an isolated incident and say there is no continuing danger to the public. Anyone with information has been asked to contact investigators at 805 654 9511.
