Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are sharing results from their investigation into an assault with a deadly weapon and officer involved shooting that occurred on October 20, 2025.

The call began at 2:39 pm at Ralph’s grocery store in the 5100-block of Hollister Avenue as a report of a suspect actively assaulting a victim with a weapon. Through their investigation, detectives learned that the altercation began when the suspect was seen abusing the victim’s dog. Before deputies arrived, the suspect stabbed the adult male victim twice and fled into the grocery store which was occupied by both customers and employees.

Sergeant Eric Delgadillo, Deputy Anthony Muneton, and additional deputies entered the store to locate the suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Abdou Rahman Nyan of Connecticut. Nyan barricaded himself inside a public restroom at the back of the store. Deputies attempted to negotiate with Nyan and de-escalate for a peaceful resolution.  Believing he was still armed with the knife used in the assault, deputies placed display racks in front of the restroom door in an effort to contain him.

Moments later, Nyan suddenly opened the door, pushed through the barricade, and charged toward the deputies clutching a metal trashcan as a barrier while holding a knife in each hand. Deputies were positioned less than ten feet away in the narrow alcove outside the restroom and issued verbal commands. A third deputy deployed a Taser, while Sergeant Delgadillo and Deputy Muneton fired six rounds, stopping the attack.

Deputies immediately secured both knives and began lifesaving measures. Fire and medical personnel arrived shortly thereafter and pronounced Nyan deceased at the scene.

No deputies were physically injured. The stabbing victim was treated at a local hospital and has since been released. The victim’s dog was unharmed.

The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the incident and will turn over findings to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for review. The involved deputies remain on administrative leave. Both of these actions are standard procedure for all officer-involved shootings in Santa Barbara County.