New Video Provides Insight into August 31st Officer-Involved Shooting in El Centro
The City of El Centro, in collaboration with the El Centro Police Department, has recently made public a new video concerning the officer-involved shooting incident that unfolded on August 31, 2023, in the 1900 block of Ocotillo Drive. The footage, albeit redacted due to sensitive content, offers additional details about the events leading to the unfortunate demise of a 31-year-old theft suspect.
This case is presently under investigation by the California Department of Justice’s Police Shooting Investigation Team, following the guidelines outlined in Assembly Bill 1506. The released video is part of an ongoing initiative aimed at maintaining transparency and objectivity throughout the investigative process.
On the morning of August 31st, El Centro police responded to a theft call at a business located in the 1800 block of South Imperial Avenue. The suspect, reportedly in possession of stolen alcohol, initiated a pursuit with officers after being tracked by the individual reporting the crime. The situation reached a critical juncture when officers confronted the suspect on Ocotillo Drive.
Preliminary findings indicate that officers verbally instructed the suspect to halt and drop the brick he was carrying. Allegedly failing to comply, the suspect turned towards the officers, attempting to assault one of them with the brick. This prompted the officers to resort to the use of deadly force, resulting in the suspect being struck in the chest.
Despite immediate medical aid administered by officers and subsequent efforts by paramedics, the suspect succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at El Centro Regional Medical Center just before 8 a.m.
The release of this new video adds valuable context to the events leading to the use of lethal force, prompting further questions about the circumstances surrounding the officer-involved shooting. As the El Centro Police Department continues to cooperate with the Department of Justice, the community awaits a thorough and unbiased examination of the incident, acknowledging the complexities involved in such cases.