California DOJ Releases AB 1506 Report on Long Beach Police Shooting of Brandon Salgado: Replica Airsoft Gun, Hour-Long Standoff, No Charges Against Officer
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Oct. 27 released a California Department of Justice (DOJ) report, completed under Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), on the April 26, 2024, death of Brandon Salgado, who was shot by a Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officer in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that the evidence does not support filing criminal charges against the officer, and no further action will be taken in this case.
According to the report, on April 26, 2024, an LBPD officer responded to a call of an “armed home invasion robbery.” After backup officers arrived, Salgado engaged in an hour-long standoff with police, during which he repeatedly stated he was armed and pointed what appeared to be a gun at himself and eventually at the officers. An officer then fired his weapon, fatally wounding Salgado. After the shooting, it was discovered that the gun Salgado held was a replica airsoft pistol.
AB 1506 requires DOJ to investigate all officer-involved shootings in California that result in the death of an unarmed civilian. DOJ said the evidence does not show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer involved acted without the intent to defend himself and others from what he reasonably believed to be an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury; therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of the officer.
“The loss of life is always tragic, and we hope that this report provides those personally affected and the Long Beach community clarity,” Attorney General Bonta said. “The California Department of Justice is committed to working with law enforcement agencies to foster a legal system that promotes fairness, transparency, and accountability for all. We believe it is our responsibility to create a safer California built on the foundation of trust and AB 1506 is fundamental in helping us achieve those goals.”
DOJ said that in every AB 1506 investigation it meticulously examines the case to propose policy recommendations that could help prevent similar incidents in the future; after a detailed investigation, it identified no policy recommendations in this case.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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