Fri. Aug 1st, 2025
Huntington Beach Police Department Press Release

A police officer-involved shooting is under investigation in Huntington Beach.

On Thursday, July 31, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., police officers responded to the 18000 block of Mora Kai regarding a family disturbance involving a suicidal subject.

Upon arrival, the police officers made contact with an individual, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

No officers were injured during the incident.

The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details will be released at this time.

The identity and condition of the person who appears to have been shot by the police was not immediately known. What led to the shooting has also not been divulged by the police.

“Suicide by cop” (SbC) is a tragic and complex phenomenon in the U.S., and while it’s not always officially tracked, research provides some estimates:

  • Estimated Frequency: Between 10% and 29% of police shootings in the U.S. may involve individuals attempting to provoke officers into using lethal force.
  • Demographics: Most individuals involved are white males, often with a history of mental illnesssubstance abuse, or prior suicide attempts.
  • Weapons: About 17% of SbC cases involve fake or unloaded weapons.
  • Common Scenarios: These incidents often occur during:
    • Criminal activity where the person prefers death over arrest.
    • Domestic or mental health crises.
    • Planned confrontations with police.

Law enforcement agencies are increasingly training officers to recognize and de-escalate potential SbC situations to avoid unnecessary loss of life.

Here are suicide prevention resources available in Orange County, CA:

  1. Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA)
    • 24/7 Crisis Line: Dial 988
    • Teen Line: (800) 852-8336 (6–10 p.m.)
    • Korean Crisis Line: (877) 727-4747 (4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.)
    • Crisis Chat: didihirsch.org/chat
    • Text for Deaf/Hard of Hearing: Text HEARME to 839863
  2. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) – Southern California Tri-Counties Chapter
  3. Be Well OC
    • A community initiative focused on mental health and suicide prevention.
    • Website: bewelloc.org

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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