- Irvine police fatally shot a 20-year-old man who called 911 himself, reporting a mental health crisis and that he was armed with a knife and prepared to harm others.
- The shooting occurred in the Turtle Rock neighborhood after more than an hour of attempted negotiations by the Crisis Negotiation Team.
- The man's father identifies him as Daniel Meltvedt, who was autistic; the father says his son posed no real threat to officers.
- The Orange County District Attorney's Office is investigating the officer-involved shooting, which is standard protocol.
On Tuesday, July 21, Irvine police officers shot and killed a 20-year-old man who had called 911 to report he was experiencing a mental health crisis, was armed with a knife, and was prepared to harm others. The incident, which unfolded in the Turtle Rock neighborhood, has sparked questions about police response to mental health emergencies.
What Happened in Turtle Rock
Police received the call around 11:45 a.m. from a man stating he was in a mental health crisis and had a knife. Officers responded to the area of Sungate and Silkwood, where they found the man in the street. The department's Crisis Negotiation Team and mental health assessment team attempted de-escalation for over an hour. According to police, the man then charged at officers with the knife, prompting an officer-involved shooting. Life-saving measures were undertaken at the scene before the man was taken to a hospital, where he died. An officer sustained minor injuries and self-transported to a hospital; details about how the officer was hurt were not provided. The knife was recovered at the scene.
The shooting happened in the Turtle Rock community just before noon, near the intersection of Sungate and Evening Breeze. Police say he was experiencing a mental health crisis and threatening suicide, saying he was armed with a knife. AIR7 video showed it lying in the middle of the street. A mobile command unit blocked off access to the neighborhood as the investigation continued. Police said they have been called to the neighborhood before.
Father's Account Contradicts Police Narrative
Erich Meltvedt, a documentary filmmaker and father of the deceased, identified his son as Daniel Meltvedt. He stated that Daniel was autistic and that he watched the encounter from his home. Meltvedt claimed his son posed no real threat to the several officers on scene, noting the knife was a small pocket or kitchen knife. He also said his attempts to intervene were thwarted by police. Meltvedt said he watched in vain during the lengthy encounter as officers surrounded his son and ultimately shot him as he emerged from bushes with a knife near the family’s home. The Orange County District Attorney's Office is investigating, as is standard for officer-involved shootings.
According to Erich Meltvedt, Daniel called him before calling police, saying, 'Dad, I’m going to call [the police], I have a knife and I need help, Dad.' Meltvedt said he tried to get near Daniel to 'calm him,' but police prevented him. He also noted that the knife was a 5-inch blade and that the workplace incident that triggered Daniel's crisis involved him slamming diapers on the floor.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Erich Meltvedt expressed regret that his son had called police, saying, “I thought they’d come to help him, but they killed him instead.” He questioned why seven officers could not subdue his son without lethal force, stating, “They have equipment, bulletproof vests and they still needed to shoot him?” Meltvedt also revealed that Irvine police had been familiar with Daniel and the family for years, and had previously assured them “that they would not shoot at all.” He described Daniel as an “overachieving” young man who loved surfing, bodybuilding, and had earned a black belt in tae kwon do. The incident began after Daniel became upset at work when co-workers told him “he doesn’t listen well,” leading him to slam products on the floor and be sent home. “He just needed help,” his father said.
On Wednesday, coroner’s officials confirmed the identity of the man shot as Daniel Alfons Meltvedt, 20, of Irvine. Officer Ziggy Azarcon, a police spokesman, declined to comment on Meltvedt’s criticism of the police response. Azarcon said the Crisis Negotiation Team took the lead over the mental health team because Meltvedt was armed. The Irvine Community Alternative Response and Engagement Team, which specializes in providing medical and mental health resources, was also at the scene on standby when the shooting occurred, but team members are not sworn officers and are not armed. Orange County firefighters were also at the scene on standby. “The guy was still armed with a knife,” Azarcon said Wednesday. “We can’t get unarmed civilians involved until the scene is safe.”
Police said officers had previously responded to several mental health-related incidents involving Meltvedt. He was connected with mental health resources after those encounters and had been receiving follow-up services from the Irvine Community Alternative Response and Engagement Team, or I-CARE, since 2025. Irvine police released a photo of the knife reportedly wielded by Meltvedt, which appeared to be a kitchen knife, though the approximate length was not known as of Wednesday afternoon. Police said they expect to release a critical incident debrief video in the coming weeks that will include the 911 call and body-worn camera footage from the shooting.
Erich Meltvedt said his son, who was an employee at a nearby Pavilions, loved surfing and bodybuilding. He had earned a driver’s license, lived independently and rose to the level of a tae kwon do black belt. “Everybody loved Daniel,” Erich Meltvedt said. “He would flex and everybody would smile.”
Local California Context
This incident is the latest in a series of officer-involved shootings in Orange County involving individuals in mental health crisis. The Irvine Police Department has a Crisis Negotiation Team and a mental health assessment team, but critics argue more training and alternative response models are needed.
Background
Officer-involved shootings of individuals with mental illness have drawn increasing scrutiny nationwide. California has invested in programs like the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act and mobile crisis teams, but implementation varies by jurisdiction and incidents like this highlight ongoing gaps.
Conclusion
The fatal shooting of Daniel Meltvedt raises urgent questions about police tactics during mental health crises. The investigation by the Orange County District Attorney's Office will be closely watched by the community and advocates for reform.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or are worried about a friend or loved one, help is available. Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.