Home Contra Costa County Man Running at Officers with Weapon, Shot and Killed by Walnut Creek Police

Man Running at Officers with Weapon, Shot and Killed by Walnut Creek Police

by ECT

On Sunday, the Walnut Creek Police Department was investigating an officer involved shooting at a home on Sandra Court in the City of Walnut Creek:

According to Police:

Walnut Creek Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place today, June 2, after multiple 911 calls regarding a disturbance at a home on Sandra Court. The first 911 call was received at 4:41 p.m. The caller said her grandson came into her room and threatened her. The dispatcher could hear a male voice yelling in the background.

At 4:42 p.m., Walnut Creek Police received a call from a nearby resident, who said he could hear an argument and possibly a gunshot. At 4:47 p.m., WCPD spoke to a second resident from where the disturbance was occurring. The caller reported her son was being violent and threatened her with a metal pole. The woman said her son has mental health problems and will be aggressive with police. The woman said he broke a sliding glass window and had a metal pole with a pointed end.

Officers arrived at 4:52 p.m. At 4:53 P.M., WCPD dispatch received another 911 call from another resident on Sandra Court. The caller said a man was pounding on his front door, had a red bandana over his head and face, and a giant crow bar in his hand.

Officers searched the neighborhood and found a man with a long pry bar with a pointed end walking on Arlene Lane towards a residence. Officers gave multiple commands, ordering him to drop the pry bar. He ignored those commands, and ran towards the officers with the pry bar. One officer shot multiple less-than-lethal kinetic energy rounds (also referred to as bean bags) at the man. He continued to run at the officers, resulting in two officers firing their handguns at him. He was struck and fell to the ground, but attempted to get up.

Officers were able to subdue him, and provided lifesaving measures, including CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene. He was transported to John Muir Hospital where he later died from his injuries. His family has been notified.

The Coroner’s office will be releasing his name. The Walnut Creek Police Department is deeply saddened by this event as any loss of life is tragic.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Walnut Creek Police Department are actively working on this ongoing investigation. The five officers who were on scene will be interviewed and placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation. We anticipate releasing the officer’s Body Worn Camera footage on a later date.

If anyone has information regarding this crime please call Walnut Creek Police Department immediately at 925-935-6400 or Detective Greg Leonard at 925-256-3523.

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26 comments

thedude Jun 3, 2019 - 8:10 am

so for the mentally ill, this was communicated… what happened to a TAZER or some other force other than going straight for the gun. I get it, walnut creek police have limited action experience due to the “high standard” citizens, however… it was communicated he was mentally ill… he needed help.. this is not helping anyone… just my thought process… If only one person could have taken lead and said lets taze him, or out man him.. he had a pole…. not a knife, or a gun… but there is ways other than utilizing a firearm. I am also a second amendment supporter but the fact is this, the state of California has pushed the mentally ill out of care facilities and now we need to deal with them accordingly, Just like the homeless.

Troy Jun 3, 2019 - 9:28 am

Dude,

Maybe if you could read, it said they tried less than lethal shots (bean bags) and he kept coming!!!

Grace Jun 3, 2019 - 2:03 pm

So? The guy was mentally ill. You cannot cure those people! Elimination is the way to go before they kill someone. These people won’t take their meds! We cannot let them be a danger to society.

thedude Jun 4, 2019 - 7:00 am

Grace,

Mentally ill is not black and white with an extremity of being ill and not being ill. There are many shades . I have a brother that is autistic , he was a bit extreme and violent when he was younger , mostly due to the treatment he was received from other people at school . I get it, he was upset and lashing out in the only way he knew how. He is older now and going to college although he will always be dependent on someone to take care of him. I look at it as if someone was messing with him and getting him all riled up , teasing him etc… and he had a metal pipe and was trying to express his frustration in his own way, there are other means to dealing with these situations. Are you saying 3 police officers dont have the capacity to out man 1 person with a metal pipe without shooting to kill?
And yes there has been many many documented cases of successfully dealing with a mental illness , however “cured” is a word I wouldnt use. Its like saying I take medicine because I am diabetic so I am cured…. not the same..

Angela Jun 5, 2019 - 2:05 pm

I doubt many diabetics just kill people for no reason like the “mentally ill” have done. Same goes for people with liver, kidney or heart problems.

Yes, there are medications to possibly help contain some of the behavior of the mentally unwell, but some do not work and others will not work IF they are not taken.

Mark Kiernan Jun 3, 2019 - 9:02 pm

Tell you what, you stand in front of a charging adult male armed with a big steel bar and try your methods, we won’t be shocked when we read your obituary.

thedude Jun 4, 2019 - 7:01 am

Mark,

Large steel bars are easy for close hand to hand situations. Its when you are far away that it becomes an issue. Yes I have prior self defense training and weigh in at 225 with 12%bf. I am always open for a good time but I am not like everyone.

Tammy Jun 4, 2019 - 2:38 am

Hey thedude! Most homeless don’t try to kill you with any kind of weapon! You can kill someone with a pencil! We cannot support crazy people who will never get well by housing them in institutions and having to pay for their keep knowing full well that they will never be let out. That’s why the state mental facilities have been shut down. What’s the purpose of keeping them alive and draining resources? You give them medicine, but they won’t take them, not that those will even work. We have to protect ourselves from them. I’ve read too many reports where the mentally ill have killed and then they are excused because they are MENTALLY ILL. It’s not like having a heart condition or any other disease. Mental illness involves the brain which is extremely intricate.

thedude Jun 4, 2019 - 7:08 am

Tammy,
Are you saying that there are no cases of someone who is mentally ill is capable of being a socialized citizen>? not defending what he did was right, but there are other ways to deal with this other than shoot to kill. There are many cases of mentally ill being able to manage their condition and work with normal people in society.

Kevin Jun 5, 2019 - 2:14 pm

Mental illness cannot be cured like other health conditions. It can be “contained” but that’s still taking a risk. There is always the chance the the crazies will attack people out-of-nowhere and then they are excused because of their condition “Oh, they are not responsible because they are mentally ill” BS.

The general public is always in danger of these people attacking unprovoked because they hear voices telling them to kill. Our society cannot just let this go. Maybe some of these people were born as a result of a “bad egg.”

Yo Jun 7, 2019 - 6:40 am

That’s how the po po in the creek get down my dog-!!!!

LT Jun 7, 2019 - 12:07 pm

They fired bean bags, but he kept coming. Seconds mattered. No one should have to take a crowbar to the head to make you happy.

Thankful! Jun 3, 2019 - 9:46 am

Im glad the officers are ok!!

Captain Jun 3, 2019 - 10:45 am

This is how it starts next it’s gunna be a 11 year old with a super soaker getting gunned down. If you want to be a paid mercenary be a cop, I know I would want to be but maybe it’s a little to late for me.

Tammy Jun 3, 2019 - 6:41 pm

Don’t let your kids play with toy guns or something which resembles a gun or rifle.

thedude Jun 4, 2019 - 7:05 am

I agree captain. I mean , dont they teach how to size up a situation for self defense in the police academy? anyone who has been through self defense knows that this is not an impossible task. Especially with someone who has a long pipe/bar whatever, close combat is key, takedowns, overpower with multiple people. There were other means than shoot to kill. I would say there is a lack of training on the police departments side to handle these situations.

thedude Jun 4, 2019 - 7:20 am

I honestly without a doubt feel this was a gross overreaction to a situation that could have been de-escalated. Police are trained to de-escalate the situation. More training is required. 5 OFFICERS on scene and nobody had a taser? Get serious… 5 OFFICERS could not de escalate a situation of someone who was mentally ill .

J Sala Jun 4, 2019 - 3:14 pm

@ the dude considering you where not even there. You are just a Monday Morning QB with an Opinion and No facts.
They used a less lethal option it didn’t work. He was shot by two officers and still tried to get up!
@ the dude just remember your comments and or suggestions are just opinions with no facts.

However a sad situation all around.

thedude Jun 5, 2019 - 9:56 am

The facts are there was 5 officers that were not trained well enough to de-escalate one person who is mentally ill with a non-lethal weapon.

ECT Jun 5, 2019 - 10:10 am

Out of curiosity, how do you know the 5 officers were not trained well?

Nick Jun 4, 2019 - 5:45 pm

Unless you’re willing to see your mentally ill family member die at the hands of police, I wouldn’t call the police. It’s not going to end well. They carry guns, and they use them. They have to.

Erik Jun 5, 2019 - 2:42 pm

Nick! To the contrary! It usually DOES end well. The family member is put out-of-commission. God bless our brave law enforcement members! Thank God they carry guns!

Melanie Jun 5, 2019 - 11:59 am

I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but police officers aren’t mental health professionals. I read an article (police administration) stating that police don’t lack empathy, they lack options. I totally agree. I don’t know if I would call the police either. I would have to be in that position. I do feel bad for his family and the police. Very sad and tragic.

Kirk G Jun 5, 2019 - 2:38 pm

If I were confronted by obviously mentally ill person, I would not hesitate calling the police on-the-double while doing whatever I could to protect myself and my loved ones from the potential perpetrator!

I lived in a neighborhood where a neighbor’s son a few houses down was totally whacked out! He would throw rocks at doors, try to cut down the fruit trees in our front yard, chase people who were walking their small dogs, shoot with his slingshot at birds in our trees or at neighbors’ windows. His people did nothing! Finally, he was hit by a car and succumbed to his injuries. Problem solved!

Sorcerer Jun 8, 2019 - 12:01 pm

I would have “taken care of him” before he even had the thought of trying to cut down my trees or shoot at birds or windows and harass people walking their dogs! You can’t dilly-dally with these sickos.

Jessica W Jun 7, 2019 - 1:24 pm

I just don’t trust ANY mentally ill person whether they are on medication or not. They are just a real danger to society! We have enough already to worry about without having to constantly look over our shoulders.

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