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Jaden Michaca

Age : 16

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 06/14/2026

Location : 3400 South Main Apartments, 3400 S. Main St.

City : Santa Ana

County : Orange

State : California

Agency : Santa Ana Police Department

Officer(s) :Not disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during mental health, crisis and domestic violence

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 06/14/2026, 15-year-old Jaden Michaca was shot and killed by Santa Ana police after officers responded to a 911 call at his family's residence. Jaden's stepfather called police and reported that Jaden was experiencing a mental health crisis and had stabbed him in the arm. When officers arrived, they found the stepfather outside the home bleeding from his arm. Officers heard arguing inside the residence and forced entry into the home. Body-worn camera video released by the Santa Ana Police Department shows Jaden's mother pleading with him in Spanish to drop a knife. Officers repeatedly ordered Jaden to drop the knife and told him they were there to help. Police said Jaden stated that he wanted officers to shoot him, refused commands to drop the knife, and then stepped toward officers while still armed. Officers fired multiple rounds, striking Jaden. He was pronounced dead following the shooting. Jaden's family disputes the police account and maintains officers should have handled the incident as a mental health emergency rather than using deadly force. His mother said she repeatedly begged officers not to shoot. The family has filed a legal claim against the City of Santa Ana alleging negligence and unjustified use of deadly force. Santa Ana police stated the responding officers were not aware of Jaden's mental health history when they entered the home. The shooting remains under investigation by the Santa Ana Police Department Internal Affairs Unit, the department's Homicide Detail, and the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Police released body-camera footage on 07/29/2026 showing the events leading up to the shooting.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://abc7.com/post/jaden-michaca-death-bodycam-video-shows-moments-before-police-shot-killed-15-year-old-santa-ana/19599025
https://abc7.com/post/jaden-michaca-death-family-santa-ana-teen-killed-police-files-legal-claim-city/19366042