September 12, 2005

Man identified in officer involved shooting at Motel 6

First death by Campbell police since 1994

By Julie Davis Berry
Executive Editor

Officers responding to a 911 call on Wednesday night, Sept. 8, shot and killed a man after the man reportedly attempted to attack police with a knife.

Police work on their investigation of an officer-involved shooting at the Motel 6 at Curtner and Campbell Avenues.

The incident took place around 10:40 p.m. at the Motel 6 at the intersection of Curtner and Camden Avenues.

The man called 911 to report that a man was in his motel room. When officers arrived they found the agitated man standing on the balcony at the motel screaming that someone was in his room. Police reportedly ordered the suspect to drop the weapon several times, but the suspect did not comply. According to reports, the man charged an officer, who responded by firing a Taser.

The man continued to advance on the officer with the knife, and the officer fired his handgun, striking the man in the leg and torso. The man, identified by Campbell police as 24-year-old Steven Fountain, was taken by ambulance to Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Fountain’s last known address was in Campbell.

The officer who shot Fountain, 32-year-old Brian Sessions, will remain on administrative leave pending completion of an investigation by the Campbell Police Department and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

According to Campbell Police Captain Russ Patterson, Officer Sessions has been with the department for less than a year. Prior to his employment with the City of Campbell, Officer Sessions served four years with the California Highway Patrol.

“He’s a nice young guy,” said Captain Patterson. “It’s going to be tough for a while, but he’ll be okay. He did everything by the book.” Patterson himself was involved in a shooting in 1981 and remembers “it was tough for a while. There are a lot of sleepless nights.”

It is unclear whether drugs or alcohol led to Fountain’s behavior but toxicology reports should be released in a month.