'Terroristic threat' call at California gym leads to 'lethal force encounter'; one officer and suspect injured

A police officer and a suspect were injured after police responded to a report of a "terroristic threat" at a gym in California.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies from the Victorville station responded to the report at about 11:20 a.m. at the In-Shape Family Fitness on Valley Center Drive.

A police spokesperson said the suspect was making terroristic threats inside the gym before police arrived. He was exiting the gym when they arrived, and their confrontation resulted in a “lethal force encounter," according to police spokesperson Mara Rodriguez.

The suspect and one officer were hospitalized, according to police, but the extent of their injuries was not released.

One witness told KTLA-TV that they saw what appeared to be a deputy officer being airlifted to the hospital.

"All I heard was a loud bang," said Chris Sarios, a witness to KCAL-TV. "I came out and we saw people scattering by In-Shape."

KTLA also reported that the deputy was stabbed by the suspect, which led to the suspect being shot, but that has not been confirmed by police. Victor Valley News Group also reported the stabbing and shooting.

The "terrorist threat" aspect of the incident raised fears that it might be connected to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and protests worldwide. The FBI has reported that hate crimes have risen to the highest level since they started tracking such incidents. Anti-Jewish hate crimes rose more than 37% to the highest level in almost three decades.

However, police have not indicated whether the incident was motivated by bias of any kind.

Victorville is a city of about 136,000 people 100 miles east of Los Angeles.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

"Terrorist threat" at Victorville fitness gym sends suspect, officer to hospital

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