An Irvine man with autism was fatally shot by police on Tuesday after a confrontation involving a kitchen knife, leaving his father questioning the decisions that led to the deadly outcome. Daniel Meltvedt, 20, was reported to be experiencing a mental health crisis when law enforcement was called to the family’s Turtle Rock neighborhood around 11:45 a.m.

According to Irvine police, officers spent more than an hour attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution through the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team. The standoff ended after Daniel Meltvedt reportedly charged at officers wielding a knife. He was shot and later pronounced dead at a hospital despite life-saving measures.

His father, Erich Meltvedt, an independent filmmaker, said he regretted supporting his son’s decision to call the police for help. “He called me saying, ‘Dad, I’m going to call [the police]. I have a knife and I need help, Dad,’” Meltvedt said in a phone interview. “I thought they’d come to help him, but they killed him instead.” He expressed frustration that officers, equipped with tactical gear, were unable to subdue his son without lethal force despite having several personnel on scene.

Erich Meltvedt described his son as an “overachieving” individual who worked at a nearby Pavilions grocery store, pursued bodybuilding, surfing, and held a black belt in taekwondo. He added that Daniel lived independently, had a driver’s license, and was generally well-liked. The father also said the family had a longstanding relationship with local authorities, who were reportedly aware of Daniel’s situation and had assured them that lethal force would be avoided.

The shooting reportedly followed an incident at Daniel’s workplace, where he became upset after coworkers told him he had difficulty listening. According to Erich Meltvedt, Daniel reacted by knocking products off shelves and was asked to leave early. “He just needed help,” his father said.

Erich Meltvedt arrived at the family home shortly after the call but was not allowed near his son by police, limiting his ability to intervene or calm the situation.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting are under review by Irvine police detectives and the Orange County district attorney’s office. Authorities have not released additional details beyond the initial account provided in a police statement.