OXNARD, Calif. — The Oxnard Police Department on Thursday released a Critical Incident Community Briefing video detailing an April 20 officer‑involved shooting involving a man armed with a machete inside a South Oxnard restaurant.
According to the department, officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a man swinging a machete near Saviers Road and Pleasant Valley Road. When officers arrived, they found the man — identified as 41‑year‑old Anastacio Meneses of Oxnard — inside the restaurant, where two employees were unable to exit safely.
Police said officers evacuated customers and issued repeated commands for Meneses to drop the weapon. According to the briefing video, Meneses refused to comply, picked up the machete, overturned a table toward officers and advanced in their direction.
Officer Brandon Castillo fired multiple rounds, striking Meneses. A police K‑9 was also injured during the confrontation after Meneses swung the machete at the dog, the department said.
Officers provided medical aid before Meneses was transported to a hospital. The department did not include his current medical condition in Thursday’s release.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Oxnard Police Department are conducting parallel investigations, which is standard protocol for officer‑involved shootings in Ventura County.
The full Critical Incident video, which includes body‑worn camera footage, dispatch audio and a narrated timeline, was released on the city’s official website.