[kellyhound]

On July 21, 2026, 20-year-old Daniel Alfons Meltvedt, who was autistic and experiencing a mental health crisis, was shot and killed by police in the Turtle Rock neighborhood of Irvine, California.

Daniel called emergency services himself, stating that he was armed with a knife, intended to self-harm, and might pose a danger to others.

The Irvine Police Department's crisis negotiation team spent over an hour on the street attempting to de-escalate the situation. Both officers and Daniel's father repeatedly pleaded with him to drop the knife.

Expressing distress and distrust, Daniel asked officers, "Are those real guns?" Shortly after, he charged at an officer with the knife raised.

Two officers fired a total of eight rounds. Daniel was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that day.

Daniel's family has been highly critical of the police response. His father stated that the weapon was a small kitchen knife and argued that his son did not pose a lethal threat.

The family questioned why less-lethal options, such as a Taser, were not deployed to subdue him. Independent filmmaker Erich Meltvedt said he regretted agreeing with his son that the 20-year-old should call police for help amid the younger man’s mental health crisis.

The shooting remains under investigation by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, a process that typically takes up to a year to determine if the use of deadly force was legally justified.

[Mr.NoCredit]

That small kitchen knife probably has a 5 inch blade which is more than enough for deadly action. Legal carry knives are less than that. I think that police could have used a mace spray over shooting the guy or a taser even. It’s kinda like cops in the US have forgotten lesser means of force over simply shooting people to death.

[joos]

The little cute anime jump straight to the afterlife, lol.

[Faust]

The agent wanted to deescalate but it had the opposite effect. I would have said “look Daniel if we wanted to shoot you it would have already been done, my officers are really hungry and we want to get some burgers. How about you trade me that knife for a burger? Just put it down”

[chingatumadre]

Orange County cops can't wait to put a slug in anyone!

[William May]

Originally Posted by Faust ↗

The agent wanted to deescalate but it had the opposite effect. I would have said “look Daniel if we wanted to shoot you it would have already been done, my officers are really hungry and we want to get some burgers. How about you trade me that knife for a burger? Just put it down”

I think that WOULD have worked! I would have offered to trade him a doughnut for the knife, if I had one with me.

[newjerseydeevil]

wow 6 cops for a autistic guy with a knife in orange county. typical usa doo doo

[RandomCalifornian]

Oh yes it's obvious that Daniel was just daintily & innocently prancing over to the officer because he was going to give him a hug! He wasn't actually a danger to anyone like he told the 911 dispatch that he was. Gimme a break!

[LivingLife]

Originally Posted by Faust ↗

The agent wanted to deescalate but it had the opposite effect. I would have said “look Daniel if we wanted to shoot you it would have already been done, my officers are really hungry and we want to get some burgers. How about you trade me that knife for a burger? Just put it down”

The Agro cop definitely pushed the wrong mental button, typical ego maniac, he was just a kid that had probably been on SSRIs his entire life. Why they don’t shoot to injure is beyond me. RIP

[csx8781]

Originally Posted by Mr.NoCredit ↗

That small kitchen knife probably has a 5 inch blade which is more than enough for deadly action. Legal carry knives are less than that. I think that police could have used a mace spray over shooting the guy or a taser even. It’s kinda like cops in the US have forgotten lesser means of force over simply shooting people to death.

No just no