‘Lot of Blood': Cal Poly Pomona Parking Officer Fatally Stabbed, Suspect Killed in Police Shooting

A parking enforcement officer was stabbed to death and the suspect was later killed in a police shooting on the Cal Poly Pomona campus on Friday, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The public safety officer was fatally stabbed by the suspect around 4:30 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Pomona Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. A colleague discovered the 37-year-old suffering from multiple stab wounds in the front seat of his university truck. 

Around 25 minutes later and about half a mile away, the suspect -- who was also in a campus vehicle -- was spotted by witnesses. They reported that he was bloodied and acting erratically. 

The suspect then got into a confrontation with police, ending in a shooting near University Road and Temple Avenue. He was fatally struck by gunfire. 

Witnesses told police they believe the suspect may have also been a college employee. 

It's unclear what prompted officers to open fire on the suspect. One Pomona police officer and one Cal Poly police officer each fired at the alleged attacker. 

A knife was recovered at the scene.

"I can confirm a murder of a Cal Poly Pomona Police Parking Officer, and Pomona Police officer involved shooting with the suspect, who didn't survive," Pomona Police Chief Michael Olivieri tweeted. 

I just arrived at the Cal Poly incident. I can confirm a murder of a Cal Poly Pomona Police Parking Officer, and Pomona Police police officer involved shooting with the suspect, who didn’t survive.

— Chief Michael Olivieri (@olivieri_ppd) June 30, 2018

Investigators described the killing as "quite brutal." There was a "lot of blood on both scenes," said Lt. John Corina with the LA County Sheriff's Department. 

"It looked like the victim put up a heck of a fight." 

It was not immediately clear if the victim and suspect knew each other. 

The shooting and stabbing prompted a safety alert to be sent to students and staff at around 5 p.m. 

"Our university community is mourning the tragic loss of life today on our campus," the university tweeted.

Aerial footage from NewsChopper 4 showed police and fire on scene as additional searches were taking place "as a precaution," Olivieri added. 

People were told to "stay away from those areas" as authorities combed the campus. 

The sheriff's department is now handling the investigation.