Family members ID suspect in Fresno officer involved shooting

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- We're learning new details about the circumstances surrounding Wednesday's officer involved shooting in Fresno. Family members have identified the suspect killed as the victim recovers at the hospital after being stabbed 13 times.

A tragic end to a difficult life, that's how family members describe the death of suspect Fred Perez. Perez's sister didn't want us to show her face, but says her brother stabbed his on-again, off-again girlfriend Wednesday morning. Neighbors at the scene told family that Fred wanted to die.

"They heard Freddie telling the officers 'Kill me, kill me,'" said Perez's sister.

Officers shot Perez down in an apartment. Had they acted any slower and police say the victim likely wouldn't have survived.

"To receive 13 stab wounds, all of them in the upper torso, the back area, the chest, the side -- and to be able to survive those wounds. Really a miracle of God," said Chief Jerry Dyer, Fresno Police.

Chief Dyer says the victim is still heavily medicated and isn't conscious, so they don't know what led up to the stabbing. He says it's likely the woman will survive, but not without a long road to recovery. "And now you have two families that are impacted by this which is almost always the case. The suspect's family as well as the victim's family. And they're the ones left behind to sort through all this. And they're the ones that are in pain."

Perez's sister says he served time in prison and had recently been diagnosed with liver cancer. She says he had difficulty coping with his aggression. Now family members are just relieved no one else had to die.

"I'm thankful that he did not injure her more severely or take her life. I'm thankful for that. And I thank God for that... And that they find in their heart to forgive him," said Perez's sister.

Chief Dyer says the victim's family has not left the hospital and they reached out to the police department -- thanking them for saving the victims life. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.