A man with a large knife was fatally wounded by local police after running into Foster Farms when the vehicle he was driving came to a stop on Henderson Avenue and Plano Street.

In a Foster Farms news release, president Don Jackson stated:

“At approximately 11:30 a.m., a knife-wielding man fleeing police trespassed onto Foster Farms property via Plano Street and attempted to enter a nearby employee break room. After providing verbal warnings to the perpetrator, law enforcement officers fatally shot the man to prevent him from reaching the break room.”

Officers from the Porterville Police Department, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Porterville Fire Department and AMR ambulance responded.

According to Gabe Calderon of Central States Industrial a stabbing may have also occurred.

“I’m suppose to be at a meeting but I was late or I’d be there, too,” Calderon said while watching from the parking lot. “I was just talking to my partner. He’s inside the building and he said a man with a large knife was trying to break into the cafeteria and someone was stabbed.”

Foster Farms denied that any stabbing had occurred.

Near the corner of Plano Street and Henderson Avenue, law enforcement also secured the area surrounding the Suzuki XL-7 that they said was related to the crime scene.

Minutes before the incident, Terra Bella resident Josie Chapman said she was driving west on Henderson Avenue when she noticed the

Suzuki vehicle driving east in the westbound lane.

“He was coming right at us,” Chapman said. “I slowed down and stopped.”

The driver swerved around her, crossed the center divider and continued on the eastbound lane.

But prior to that, Chapman said she saw the vehicle hit the northeast curb at Henderson Avenue and Main Street.

“It appeared he had a couple of flat tires, I don’t know if that is where it happened,” Chapman said. “What caught our attention is that dust flew everywhere.”

Chapman said she also noticed that the vehicle was being pursued by law enforcement vehicles.

The incident is under investigation by local law enforcement.

“Thankfully, no Foster Farms employees were injured,” Jackson also said in the news release. “Foster Farms would like to acknowledge the prompt response of law enforcement officers in successfully protecting employees and visitors from what could have been further violence and injury.”

-- Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or eavila@portervillerecorder.com.