safety
DA clears San Jose officers in fatal shooting after child's killing
Summary by The San Francisco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Bay City News , NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC)
· July 23, 2026
· 2 min read
Santa Clara County prosecutors have ruled that two police officers acted lawfully when they fatally shot a Fremont man who charged at them with a knife moments after he killed his 9-year-old son in a San Jose park last summer. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office’s investigation foun...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The San Francisco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Bay City News, NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway ” When Officers Eduardo Eyer and Kevin McAlindon arrived about eight minutes later, they found Dzierbun sitting on the grass about 50 feet from his son’s body while holding a knife.
Why this matters in The San Francisco
The District Attorney's ruling that the San Jose officers acted lawfully in the fatal shooting of Mateusz Dzierbun at Cataldi Park last summer brings closure to a tragic incident that shocked the community. The fact that the events unfolded in a public park where a group was taking pickleball lessons underscores the potential risks that officers face in responding to emergency situations. The officers' decision to use deadly force was likely influenced by Dzierbun's explicit statements and actions, which suggested a desire to provoke a lethal response. As the city continues to grapple with issues of public safety and police accountability, this incident highlights the complexities and challenges that law enforcement officers face in making split-second decisions to protect themselves and others. The San Jose Police Department's protocols and training for responding to situations involving armed and potentially suicidal individuals will likely be scrutinized in the aftermath of this incident.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) . The San Francisco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) ·
Reading time: 2 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Santa Clara County prosecutors have ruled that two police officers acted lawfully when they fatally shot a Fremont man who charged at them with a knife moments after he killed his 9-year-old son in a San Jose park last summer. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office’s investigation foun...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Bay City News at NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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