Posted on 07/24/2021 5:39:47 AM PDT by USA Conservative
Drone video captured the moment police fatally shot a 19-year-old man after he pointed a gun at an officer — a weapon that turned out to be a “real-looking” BB gun, authorities said.
The man, Gerardo Martinez, 19, was fatally shot by Salinas Police Officer Mario Reyes on Friday night, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni said in a statement.
On Monday, Monterey County district lawyer Jannin Pasioni updated the public about what happened before and after police officer Mario Reyes fired three rounds at Gerald Martinez. The office also released a deadly shooting drone footage included in this report.
Video below:
This is what the police and prosecutors say happened.
Around 8 pm on Friday, a 911 dispatcher in Monterey County received a call from a Salinas man saying he pointed his black pistol about five minutes before his “very drunk” neighbor called. The incident happened on 100 blocks of Smith Street, Philis said.
The man’s neighbor was later identified as Martinez.
When the 911 operator asked the caller what Martinez was doing with a gun, he said, “He turned it at us, and he’s really drunk now.” “I need an officer here as soon as possible,” he said, according to a statement from the district attorney.
The police statement said that in September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill requiring the state Justice Department to investigate fatal police shootings of unarmed civilians. However, the Justice Department “declined to investigate this shooting because Mr. Martinez was armed according to DOJ’s interpretation of the statute,” it said.
Prosecutors said the law defines a deadly weapon to include, but is not limited to, any loaded weapon from which a shot can result in death or other physical injury, officials said.
This is probably a suicide by a cop.
Was he in his own house? Did the cops identify themselves?
These racist Hispanic cops keep shooting Hispanic men. Where’s the justice? What more evidence do we need of systemic racism?
Hispanic Lives Matter!
Hispanic Supremist cops must be held accountable!
(/s)
Play stupid games....win stupid prizes...
I was a 19yo college kid high on pot.
He sure thought it was funny to scare that skinny White kid.
A-holes come in all colors.
I wonder why they even make BB guns that look like real ones.
Yes.
But my quip about “He mustta been racist” was a joke.
Video at link. He came out of his door, pointed his gun at cops off camera and was shot in the left chest, fell, video ends.
Indigenous leaders call for further investigation into fatal police shooting in Salinas
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) Indigenous leaders from around California have released a list of demands related to a police shooting in Salinas that led to the death of 19-year-old Gerardo Martinez.
The group said it is calling for justice and called his death a murder because Martinez spoke Zapotec and had a limited understanding of Spanish. They argue that Martinez did not understand police commands to come out of his home and raise his arms.
“Gerardo was shot 3 times and murdered by Police Officer Mario Reyes, Salinas Police Department. Gerardo, unfortunately, will not live to see his dreams of working to start a family of his own and support his siblings to continue going to school to have other opportunities out of the fields,” they wrote in a joint statement.
I SAW the video( no sound). Did the cops identify themselves. Was this his home and was he possibly defending it.
He came out of the door pointing a gun. Why not stay inside? No one knocked. Unfortunate all around. He may have thought he was scaring off intruders.
I have several of these BB pistols. Even at close range it is very difficult to determine that they are air guns.
They are the same size, weight and markings as the real pistol.
Glock 17
S&W M&P
Tanfoglio
https://www.pyramydair.com/air-guns/pistols/co2-guns
When they send officials to take our guns it may look like this
Seriously? You think that is clever?
In the 70s, a black cop saved my life. God bless him.
Guy looked drunk and confused. I wasn’t aware that police were using drones to document operations. Better than a body cam in this instance.
Pointed gun at neighbor. Neighbor called police. Police identified themselves. He came out with gun and pointed it at police. Sometimes you have to read the story
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