Deputies shoot man with machete at Thousand Oaks shopping center

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THOUSAND OAKS, CA. – Ventura County deputies shot the accused man he threatened people with a machete at Thousand Oaks mall earlier this week.

The incident occurred on October 24 just before 6:30 a.m., when officers were called to the Ventu Park shopping center. The department received reports of a man walking around the area threatening people with a machete.

The sheriff’s office said when officers arrived, they found the man and tried to take him into custody. The officers then tried to use a stun gun on him, which also didn’t work. The man then ran away and went to one of the stores in the shopping center. Deputies said the man threatened employees and then they shot him.

Deputies treated the man and paramedics took him to the hospital. He is currently in critical condition, according to the sheriff’s office.

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Following an investigation, officers discovered the same man was allegedly responsible for other crimes that had occurred nearby earlier that morning.

Investigators said that outside the mall scene, the same man used a machete to break a window at the Palm Garden Hotel and then went to the nearby 76 gas station. There, deputies said the man attacked another man and then stole his car. The department said he allegedly drove the car to a shopping mall, where he clashed with another man and used a machete to destroy his car.

The services did not identify the man. They are still investigating and plan to release body camera footage of the shooting in the next 45 days. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 805-384-4737.