Body camera footage released on Friday, March 28, reveals that four Anaheim police officers fatally shot a man on December 27. The man was believed to be armed, but the weapon was later identified as a BB gun.
According to the Anaheim Police Department’s report and video, a 911 caller reported at approximately 7 p.m. on December 27 that a man at the Chevron gas station at East and South streets had threatened him and attempted to steal his car keys and cell phone.
The caller, who had left the scene, informed police that the man was still at the gas station and had appeared to be reaching towards his waist, suggesting he might be armed, as indicated in the translated 911 call.
Warning: The following video contains potentially disturbing content:
Upon arrival, officers spoke with the caller, who stated he did not wish to press charges for the attempted theft but requested that police search for the man. After an unsuccessful search, the officers cleared the call.
Roughly 40 minutes later, the caller contacted police again, reporting that he had returned to the gas station, located the suspect, and wanted officers to come back. Two different officers responded and followed the caller to the vicinity of South and Bond streets, where the caller identified the man, 30-year-old Alexis Salas of Yorba Linda, walking on the sidewalk.
Police attempted to engage with Salas, who they believed was reaching towards his waistband before he fled on foot. One officer pursued him on foot, while the other followed in their patrol vehicle, as shown in the body-worn camera footage.
During the pursuit on various streets, Salas could be heard yelling profanities at the officers. The video then shows officers believed Salas pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the officer following him in the police car.
Officers continued to follow Salas around a corner and ordered him to drop his weapon before he entered a resident’s backyard. Additional officers were called to establish a perimeter around the area.
Police briefly lost sight of Salas before they saw him running again. Officers fired multiple shots at him, yelled at Salas again, and then discharged at least five more rounds, the footage indicates.
In total, four officers discharged their firearms at Salas, according to the police department.
After the shooting, officers recovered what appeared to be a black firearm from Salas’ hand and immediately began life-saving measures until paramedics arrived and transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the weapon was a semi-automatic BB gun.
The California Department of Justice and the Anaheim Police Department are currently investigating the shooting. Police officials stated that the investigation could take up to a year to conclude.