California Attorney General Bonta Releases Officer-Involved Shooting Report in Grover Beach Case, Finds No Basis for Charges
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on November 13 released a report in Oakland on the May 25, 2024, officer-involved shooting death of Aaron Gardner in Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo County, concluding after a thorough investigation that the evidence does not support filing criminal charges and that no further action will be taken in the case.
According to the report, Grover Beach police first responded to a 911 call about Gardner threatening a person with a handgun but could not locate him. About ten minutes later, an officer responded to a second call about Gardner throwing rocks at passing vehicles and passersby. Once located, Gardner stated he was armed, held the gun behind his back and repeatedly ignored warnings to drop it; after he aimed the gun at the officer, the officer fired, fatally wounding him. Gardner's handgun was later found to be a plastic, Glock-style replica.
Under Assembly Bill 1506, the California Department of Justice must investigate every officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian. The report also makes five policy recommendations, covering dispatch communication between the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Communication Center and responding officers, finalizing the Grover Beach Police Department's draft crisis intervention policy and training, additional training on waiting for backup in high-risk encounters, de-escalation tactics using time, distance and cover, and aligning the department's de-escalation policy with current state law. Bonta said he hopes the report provides clarity to the Grover Beach community and those personally affected.
(Source: California Department of Justice)
Source: California Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Rob Bonta official portrait，作者 Douglas Despres, California Attorney General's Office，Wikimedia Commons，Public domain；Photo: Rob Bonta official portrait, by Douglas Despres, California Attorney General's Office, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
