Selma neighborhood rattled after police say officers forced to shoot domestic violence suspect

SELMA, Calif. (KFSN) -- It was a chaotic scene Monday night after Selma police say they were forced to shoot and kill a man armed with a knife on top of his roof.

"They tried to talk him down off the roof, but he wouldn't comply," Tony Botti with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said. "He actually started harming himself with the knife so that caused one of the officers to go up there and try to get him down."

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office has taken over the investigation that originally came in as a domestic dispute inside the Selma home. Authorities say they received reports of a woman outside her home covered in blood.

Detectives say she had been stabbed several times by her husband, 45-year-old Johnny Platas. When officers arrived they found Platas on the roof and still armed with the knife.

"One of the officers used his taser on the suspect but it had a minimal effect," Botti said. "Suspect fell down on the rooftop, he was able to get back up, and he started advancing toward the officer with the knife. Other officers opened fire on the suspect striking him and he later passed away."

According to court documents, Platas had a criminal past that included a recent domestic violence case where he pleaded 'No Contest' on February 15 and was ordered to attend anger management classes.

"He's got a short criminal history," Botti explained. "We understand there were calls for service on domestic violence at that location before."

Despite previous calls, neighbors we spoke to say they never heard any disturbances coming from the home.

"Basically middle class, quiet neighborhood, lots of kids," Alan Langstraat said. "They go to school next door to Selma High or Jackson, but we've never had any trouble that I know of."