Bryant Neil Duncan, a 23-year-old from Camarillo, California, died on December 16, 2015, in a deputy-involved shooting. The incident occurred shortly before noon when Duncan, who had no permanent address, called 911 from a 7-Eleven store at Carmen and Daily drives, stating he intended to rob the store and wanted the police to kill him. When a Ventura County sheriff's deputy, Leon Mah, arrived at the scene, Duncan approached the patrol car and opened the passenger door. Despite repeated commands to drop the knife he was holding, Duncan advanced towards the deputy, leading Mah to fire multiple shots in self-defense. Duncan was pronounced dead at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks.
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office conducted an investigation into the shooting and concluded that Deputy Mah's use of deadly force was justified. The DA's report detailed that Duncan had drugs in his system consistent with marijuana/hashish and had sent a text message to a friend expressing his desire to die but his inability to commit suicide due to his love for his father. The report suggested that Duncan's actions were an attempt to provoke a lethal response from law enforcement, a phenomenon known as "suicide by cop." The investigation found that Mah retreated 106 feet as Duncan advanced with the knife before firing the final shot. The deputy was placed on administrative leave following the incident but was later cleared to return to duty.
There were no arrests or suspects in connection with Duncan's death, as it was determined to be a case of self-defense by law enforcement. The investigation did not lead to any further litigation or murder charges, and the case was closed following the DA's report. The incident highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with individuals experiencing mental health crises and the tragic outcomes that can result from such encounters.
