The video shown above is from a shooting involving an officer in the Bay Terraces neighborhood in July 2022.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego County District Attorney on Friday determined all law enforcement officers involved in six separate shootings in the past four years have been cleared of criminal liability.
The first shooting occurred in June 2020 after a domestic violence call turned into a standoff in Lakeside. A deputy fired two rifle rounds at the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Dustin Banzhof, as he drove a vehicle toward law enforcement, the DA said. Prior to the shooting, the suspect fired multiple rounds in the air and toward deputies while at the residence, according to the DA. Several hours later, the suspect was struck with a less-lethal projectile in the leg. The suspect was then taken into custody and brought to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“The District Attorney’s review found that the officer reasonably believed that Banzhof posed an imminent threat when he fired shots toward the officers and drove his pickup truck toward the officers while armed with the rifle. Therefore, the officer bears no state criminal liability for his actions,” the DA said.
The second shooting occurred in July 2022 in the Bay Terraces neighborhood. Officers responded to an assault report where they found the suspect, identified as 43-year-old Maurice Littlejohn, with a stick in his hand. Police ordered the suspect to drop the stick, which he did do, but then grabbed a black folding knife in his waistband area and waved it toward officers, the release said. An officer fired his Taser at the suspect who fell to the ground, removed the Taser barbs from his body and started running from the officers. At one point, the suspect pointed an object with his right hand and yelled, “Boom, boom,” according to the DA. One of the officers thought the suspect was pointing the gun at him and fired his weapon twice at the suspect, missing both times. After two more Taser shots and a fight with officers, the suspect was taken into custody.
“The District Attorney’s review found that when the officer fired two rounds from his handgun toward Littlejohn, he reasonably believed that Littlejohn posed an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury and that the use of such force was necessary to defend against the threat and the officer, therefore, bears no criminal liability for his actions,” the DA said.
The third shooting occurred in August 2022 in the Fairmount Park neighborhood. Authorities found two elderly adults injured and bleeding after being beaten with a wood stick. The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Scholar Wang, was armed with a hedge trimmer and knife and barricaded himself in the bathroom of the home, according to the DA. After multiple attempts to get the suspect out of the bathroom, police released a police dog that bit the suspect who started to hit the police dog with a metal rod. The suspect then raised the metal rod in a striking motion at the officer when the officer fired three shots at the suspect, per the DA. The suspect died from his wounds.
“The District Attorney’s review found that a reasonable officer in the same situation would believe that Wang had the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury to themself and others. Therefore, given the totality of the circumstances, the officer bears no state criminal liability for his actions,” the DA said.
The fourth shooting occurred in January 2023 near the El Cajon area. Authorities found a female victim with multiple stab wounds inside a business. Officers located the suspect, identified as 77-year-old Frank Brower, at his home who reached into the back driver side door of his vehicle, ignoring multiple demands from law enforcement, according to the DA. That’s when one officer fired four bean bag rounds but the shots did not affect the suspect. The suspect then went back into his vehicle to grab a shotgun from his vehicle and turned toward officers, the release said. Two of the officers fired at the suspect who died from his wounds.
“The District Attorney’s review found that when they discharged their firearms at Brower, the officers reasonably believed, based on the totality of circumstances, that such force was necessary to defend against the imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury posed by Brower. As a result, they bear no state criminal liability for their actions,” the DA said.
The fifth shooting also occurred in January 2023. Authorities conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle that left an area known for illegal drug use. When the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Christopher De Arman, refused the officers’ request to inspect the vehicle and drove away from them, a pursuit ensued. At one point, the suspect stopped his vehicle and officers drew their weapons for the suspect to show his hands. The suspect got out of the vehicle with a weapon and pointed it in the direction of the officers, according to the DA. That’s when two officers fired their handgun, striking the suspect. The suspect was arrested and taken to a hospital where he later died.
“The District Attorney’s review found that a reasonable officer in the same situation would believe that De Arman had the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury when he exited his vehicle and began firing a firearm. As a result, the officers bear no state liability for their actions,” the DA said.
The sixth shooting occurred in the Bostonia neighborhood in March 2023. Authorities approached a car that was in a location associated with criminal activity. In the vehicle was a stolen vehicle suspect identified as Brenten Kinzenbaw, who refused commands from law enforcement to not move, according to the DA. The suspect then drove the vehicle toward authorities when one of the deputies fired his firearm at Kinzenbaw, the release said. Kinzenbaw was struck, suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
“Based on the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable officer in Ochoa-Ramirez’s situation would also believe that Kinzenbaw had the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury. Therefore, Ramirez-Ochoa bears no state criminal liability,” the DA said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
