(KRON) — A Sunnyvale Division of Public Security officer who shot and killed a half-naked 19-year-old man dashing at him with a knife final 12 months did so lawfully, in line with a report from the Santa Clara County District Lawyer’s Workplace. Within the preliminary incident, police responded to a 911 name on March 23 final 12 months reporting a person strolling round with a knife.
The caller, it turned out was the person with the knife, recognized as Emmanuel Perez-Becerra, 19. He was carrying solely a shirt on the time and was bare from the waist down.
Officers responded to the scene on the intersection of Calle Alicia and Calle Anita. Initially, the officer remained in his car and ordered the topic to drop the knife utilizing the car’s PA system.
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Perez-Becerra, the DA stated, ignored this and stored strolling north on Calle Alicia. The officer exited his car, drew his firearm and pointed it at Perez-Becerra, once more ordering him to “Drop the knife.”
Perez-Becerra refused orders from the officers to drop the knife. He additionally ignored a warning that he could be shot, the DA stated. Officers tried to keep away from the usage of pressure by sustaining a protected distance from the topic.
Nevertheless, Perez-Becerra quickly superior towards Sunnyvale DPS officer Kevin Lemos, the DA stated. Lemos fired two rounds from his department-issued sidearm. Each rounds struck the topic within the chest, killing him.
“This incident is unquestionably heartbreaking for both the officer and the decedent’s family,” learn a report from Deputy DA Rob Baker. “The evidence strongly suggests that Perez-Becerra may have committed ‘suicide by cop’ due to a years-long battle with depression and schizophrenia. His own actions and behavior, however, placed Officer Lemos in the unfortunate situation that left him, in the words of an independent bystander, ‘no choice’ but to use lethal force.”
Within the report, Officer Lemos defined that he adopted Perez-Becerra to “keep eyes” on him, believing he was a hazard to the general public, based mostly on the day and time, the officer stated, it will have been widespread for adults and kids to be out and about within the space.
Emmanuel Perez-Becerra (Courtesy of household)
Emmanuel Perez-Becerra (Courtesy of household)
Emmanuel Perez-Becerra (Courtesy of household)
An post-mortem report on Perez-Becerra, the DA stated, famous he had been recognized with melancholy and schizophrenia following six years of suicidal ideation. He had been subjected to each voluntary and involuntary Emergency Psychiatric Companies holds not less than twice within the 12 months main as much as the capturing.
Final month, Perez-Becerra’s household filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in connection to the capturing. His dad and mom and their legal professionals keep that officers didn’t observe protocol and that utilizing a firearm on the 19-year-old ought to have been a final resort.
