The lead is really flyin’ today as yet another body cam has been released for our enjoyment. This one takes place in California and no, BLM, this guy wasn’t black either so put down your protest signs and Molotov cocktails and relax. Here’s the situation: Salinas police were called about a man brandishing a gun so they arrived, drew their weapons, and quite a variety of weapons as you will see, and an intense standoff ensued. Eventually the suspect reached for his weapon and the cops sent a torrent of withering gunfire at the suspect! Thirty-two rounds in all! This one’s gonna be gory right?
SALINAS POLICE SHOOTING: Body cam footage, names of officers, further details released
Authorities Friday released the names and body camera footage of Salinas police officers who fired 32 gunshots at a man accused of brandishing a gun a week ago.
Guadalupe Aguirre Espinoza, 38, gestures for more than 10 minutes and does not comply with officers’ orders over a loudspeaker before they open fire in Officer Mario Reyes’ footage.
Guadalupe Aguirre Espinoza. He looks so sad. Cheer up, buddy. I just made you a star!
The footage and new information was released by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office at a press conference Friday. The DA is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
Police were dispatched at 10:28 p.m. Feb. 1 to the Safeway on Constitution Boulevard, DA Jeannine Pacioni said at the press conference.
“Officers were told he’d brandished a gun at the (911 caller),” she said.
They were also told he was believed to be near a creek at the back of the property, Pacioni said.
Officers found Espinoza in some woods, formed a half circle around him and began commanding him in Spanish to get on the ground, Pacioni said. Espinoza didn’t comply and instead responded to officers with questions and unintelligible speech, according to a transcript of Reyes’ footage provided by the DA.
However, Pacioni added that winds were blowing about 30 mph at the time, which drowned out parts of the body camera’s audio. A police dog was also present and barking at times, interfering with the audio’s clarity, she said.
Tests also showed Espinoza had a blood-alcohol level of .14, nearly twice the legal limit, she said.
The officers continued ordering Espinoza on the ground and asking him if he has a gun for about 10 minutes, the transcript says. They also said he was armed and considered using the police dog.
No! Don’t use the dog as living Kevlar! Dude has a gun. What if the suspect shoots the dog? What if you shoot at the suspect and the dog gets caught in the crossfire. You might hit it. And having witnessed your accuracy it wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
You’ll see what I mean soon.
In the first few minutes, after an unintelligible portion of the audio, Reyes says “He’s telling us to shoot him,” according to the DA’s transcript.
Later, another officer later says “he’s refusing, saying that he wants us to kill him.”
Espinoza mostly just asked questions such as “huh” and “Do you want?” in Spanish while gesturing throughout the video.
Hmm, a Mexican in California that seems to only speak Spanish. Illegal immigrant perhaps? But I’m just speculating.
At certain points, officers tell him to remove his hands from his waist, according to the transcript.
About 11 minutes in, all the officers say “Hey!” and start shooting, ultimately firing 32 bullets in just seconds.
Here’s that awesome fusillade they unleashed at Espinoza! Remember, 11 minutes is where the shooting starts.
“Shots fired just now, they need medics,” the dispatcher said in the transcript.
Espinoza is then screaming, according to the transcript.
What the hell, guys?!? You just fired 32 times at a stationary target and he’s still alive???
Just prior to the shooting, Espinoza was pulling out a weapon, later identified as a “CO2 Airsoft BB-gun,” Pacioni said.
“It’s considered a replica because it’s designed to look like a real gun,” she said.
Officers do not begin to move toward Espinoza until about 30 seconds later, according to the footage.
“Wait! Wait! Everybody wait! The, his hand just moved,” Officer Mario Avina says.
Two bullets had hit Espinoza — one in his right thigh and another in his buttocks. One bullet has not been removed yet.
TWO HITS! Two $@#& hits? Oh damn, I’m pissed! This could have been one of the best body cams EVER but you guys shoot like the Schofield Kid in ‘Unforgiven!’
He also suffered a bruise to his groin and another to his waist area, Pacioni said.
She did not elaborate on how those wounds happened.
But she did say one officer fired four rubber bullets.
Too bad, the officer with the rubber bullets didn’t have a real gun. It seems he probably had the best accuracy of the bunch.
She said she would not take questions at the news conference or release additional information until the investigation is over. She did not elaborate on why.
And here’s the Combat Shooters Hall of Shame:
Authorities also released the names of the officers and their involvement Friday. They are:
Officer Evan Adams, who has five years of law enforcement experience. He fired seven rounds from his Glock 45.
Officer Eduardo Bejarano, who has 18 months of law enforcement experience. He had a 9mm weapon and fired one round.
Officer Francisco DeLeon, who has more than three years of law enforcement experience. He fired eight rounds from his 9mm gun.
Officer Chayene Garcia, who has nine years of law enforcement experience and fired 11 rounds from a 9mm gun.
Reyes, who has 12 years of law enforcement experience, had an AR-15 rifle that misfired when he tried to shoot a bullet.
Officer Cameron Mitchell, who has four years of law enforcement experience. Mitchell had a 40mm rubber-bullet launcher and fired four non-lethal rounds.
Sgt. Jeffrey Ramsden, who has 17 years of law enforcement experience. He had a Glock 45 and fired five rounds.
It’s OK, officers. Just do some more practicing.
Six of the officers had body cameras, but one wasn’t activated, Pacioini said. Ramsden did not have a body camera, she said.
Espinoza was taken to a local hospital, treated and later booked into the Monterey County Jail.
On Thursday, Espinoza was arraigned in Monterey County Superior Court. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of brandishing a replica gun, one count of drug possession and two counts of shoplifting, all misdemeanors.
None the worse for wear.
He is next due in court Wednesday morning.
In June 2016, the Salinas Police Department began having the district attorney’s office investigate all officer-involved shootings as a measure meant to improve public trust and transparency. The move came after a recommendation in a Department of Justice review of the Salinas Police Department.
Before, most investigations of officer-involved shootings were conducted by the Salinas Police Department itself and then the investigation was also reviewed by the district attorney’s office.
Espinoza was one lucky son of a bitch. Thirty-two rounds and only two hits in non-vital areas. And maybe he wasn’t so lucky at that. Remember above, “another officer later says ‘he’s refusing, saying that he wants us to kill him.'” They tried their best but he just picked the wrong group of cops.
