Home Pittsburg Pittsburg Police Release Body Cam Video of Officer Involved Shooting

Pittsburg Police Release Body Cam Video of Officer Involved Shooting

by ECT
Pittsburg Police

The following was released today by the Pittsburg Police Department regarding an incident earlier this week where officers shot and killed a man.

Police released body cam video and identified the male shot and killed as Salvador Morals, 37 of Pittsburg.

Just after the 3-minute mark is when the shots are fired.


The Pittsburg Police Department, after notification of family, can now release the name of the man involved in Monday’s officer involved shooting as 37-year-old Salvador Morales of Pittsburg.

In addition, pursuant to Pittsburg Police policy, we have decided to release officers’ body worn camera footage and in-car video of the incident in an effort to foster transparency and trust with our community. While audio was captured, the body worn cameras do not show Mr. Morales at the moment of the shooting due the orientation of those cameras. The in-car video does depict Mr. Morales’ actions just prior to the shooting.

A link to the video can be found at the end of this release.

On October 22, 2018, Pittsburg Police Officers were called to a residence in the 100 block of Carolyn Drive in regards to a domestic incident. Prior to arriving at the house officers were informed an estranged husband, later identified as Mr. Morales, arrived at the home and held his wife and baby at gun point. A family member attempted to intervene when Morales fired the gun, striking the family member in the neck. That family member suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Morales then forced his wife and baby into his vehicle and drove away from the scene.

Pittsburg Officers found the car and pursued it west into the city of Concord and ultimately back into the city of Pittsburg. Morales then stopped the vehicle in front of a home in the 100 block of West 10th Street. As he exited the car with the gun, his wife was able to run and carry her baby to the safety of nearby officers. Morales ran into the residence and barricaded himself inside. The Pittsburg Police Department tactical unit and Crisis Negotiation Team arrived on scene and continued communication with Morales, requesting he exit the house without the gun.

During the communication Morales walked to the front door of the house several times with the gun. After a period of time he walked out of the house and into the driveway. He was still in possession of the gun, and did not comply with the officers’ commands to put the gun down. A less-lethal projectile was discharged towards Morales in an attempt to detain him. He then raised the gun and fired towards officers.

Officers returned fire and Morales was struck. Officers immediately removed the gun from his possession and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. He died at John Muir Hospital.

Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult and tragic situation.

All of the officers involved in the incident are members of the Pittsburg Police Department S.W.A.T. team: Sergeant William Hatcher (13-year police veteran), Sergeant Gabriel Palma (14-year police veteran), Acting Sergeant Charles Blazer (21-year police veteran), and Corporal Alex McCray (8-year police veteran).

The Contra Costa County Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was enacted and the Pittsburg Police Department has entered a joint investigation with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. Through this investigation it was determined officers fire one less-lethal round, Morales fired one round at officers and officers returned fire with eight rounds. This is still an active investigation.

Provided October 22, 2019:

Last night, Pittsburg Police Officers were called to a residence in the 100 block of Carolyn Drive in regards to a domestic incident. Prior to arriving at the house officers were informed an estranged husband arrived at the home and held his wife and baby at gunpoint. A family member attempted to intervene when the man fired the gun, striking the family member in the neck. The man then forced his wife and baby into his vehicle and drove away from the scene.

Pittsburg Officers found the car and pursued the vehicle west into the city of Concord and ultimately back into the city of Pittsburg. The man then stopped the vehicle in front of a home in the 100 block of West 10th Street. As the man exited the vehicle with the gun, the wife and baby were able to run safely to nearby officers. The man ran into the residence and barricaded himself inside. The Pittsburg Police Department tactical unit and Crisis Negotiation Team arrived on scene and continued communication with the man, requesting he exit the house without the gun.

During the communication the man walked to the front door of the house several times with the gun. After a period of time the man walked out of the house and into the driveway. He was still in possession of the gun, and did not listen to the officers’ commands to put the gun down. A less-lethal projectile was discharged towards the man in an attempt to detain him. The man then raised the gun and fired towards officers.

Officers returned fire and the man was struck. Officers immediately removed the gun from his possession and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. He died at John Muir Hospital.

The man was 37-years-old and from Pittsburg. Our thoughts are with the man’s family during this difficult and tragic situation all around. We are also waiting to release his name, until his family has been notified. The Contra Costa County Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was enacted and the Pittsburg Police Department has entered a joint investigation with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

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