Intense bodycam footage captures a harrowing moment in Fresno, where a police officer narrowly escaped a life-threatening encounter.

Recently released video reveals the dramatic seconds when an officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, endeavored to apprehend a suspect. The situation took a perilous turn as the suspect brandished a firearm and discharged it, grazing the top of the officer’s baseball cap. This chilling moment was made public by the Fresno Police Department in a critical incident video shared last Friday.

The incident unfolded on December 7, 2025, during an evening patrol in central Fresno. Officers came across two individuals in an alley, gathered near a warming fire. Among them was Bradley Nicholson, 41, who was under post-release community supervision.

When approached by the police, Nicholson attempted to deceive the officers by providing a false name, “Jason.” His efforts to evade capture escalated the situation, leading to a tense confrontation.

Footage from the officer’s bodycam shows the officer persistently urging Nicholson to remain calm, while also warning that forceful measures would be employed if necessary. The encounter underscores the unpredictable dangers officers face daily on the streets.

Bodycam footage from the officer showed the cop repeatedly attempting to get Nicholson to relax and threatening to take him down.

“I’m going to drop you,” the officer said, as Nicholson repeated from him to “let go,” and claimed to not be on parole.

As the two men struggled, Nicholson reached for a gun on his side and pulled away from the officer before he fired a shot at the officer’s head, striking his hat  and knocking it off his head. Amazingly, the officer was completely uninjured.

The officer would later explain that he felt the “burning sensation of the bullet pass through his hair.”

The officer who had just been shot then discharged his weapon and took off after Nicholson who had run away.

Bodycam footage showed the second officer responding to the first officer being shot.

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“Freeze, Police,” and “Show me your hands,” the second officer yelled at Nicholson, and then fired a shot at Nicholson, striking him in the left cheek, according to police. 

In a post-incident interview, officer two said he saw the officer’s hat fly off his head and he thought Nicholson had possibly killed the first officer. 

Nicholson then took shelter in a carport while still armed, according to the police.

Despite being fired upon, the officer who was shot remains calm the entire time in the video as the two cops attempt to get Nicholson to drop his weapon and surrender peacefully.

The SWAT team was called out and after about 90 minutes, Nicholson finally dropped his firearm and surrendered to police. He was transported to the hospital and survived his injury. 

Nicholson has been charged with five felonies, including attempted murder, two counts of assault on a peace officer, and possession of a gun as a felon, according to court records. 

No officers were hurt in the exchange, police said. 

The California Post contacted the Fresno Police Department for comment.