Search fatalities

On 11/26/2021, a security guard at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego shot and killed Travers Spargo King, 36, at Gate 5 of the military installation near Washington Street and Pacific Highway. King was a Boston resident who had worked as a civilian air-conditioning technician at the recruit depot from March through November 2021 and had previously served in the U.S. Coast Guard.
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Shortly before noon, King drove an SUV toward the Gate 5 checkpoint and attempted to enter the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. According to Marine Corps officials, personnel repeatedly ordered King to stop as he approached the controlled entrance.
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Marine Corps officials reported that King initially ignored the commands. King eventually stopped the vehicle and got out. Authorities alleged that he was holding a knife and approached personnel at the security checkpoint despite additional warnings.
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A guard then opened fire, striking King. Emergency personnel responded, but King died at the scene. Available reporting identifies a single guard as firing the fatal shots but does not publicly identify that person.
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The Naval Criminal Investigative Service opened an investigation into the fatal shooting. Marine Corps officials released King's identity in December 2021 but provided few additional details concerning the confrontation or the identity of the person who fired.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The military security guard who shot Travers Spargo King has not been publicly identified in the available records.

https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/san-diego-news/marine-corps-recruit-depot-releases-name-of-boston-man-shot-killed-by-guard
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2021/12/09/knife-wielding-man-killed-at-marine-corps-recruit-depot-san-diego-was-base-employee/
https://patch.com/california/san-diego/man-who-was-fatally-shot-during-confrontation-mcrd-gate-idd
https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2021/12/08/knife-wielding-man-killed-at-marine-base-was-boston-resident/

On November 26, 2021, at approximately 2:00 p.m., deputies from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Edith Blvd NE and Montano Rd NW in North Valley, Albuquerque. Deputy Ronald Perez, a 10-year veteran of the department, was among the responding officers. The man, identified as 18-year-old Elijah Richie, fled the scene on foot after crashing his red SUV into a chain-link fence at Edith Blvd and Nikanda Road. Surveillance footage showed Richie attempting to flee the scene, armed with an AR-15 style pistol and carrying a backpack containing additional firearms. Deputy Perez pursued Richie and, after verbal commands to drop the weapon, fired a single shot, fatally wounding Richie. Richie was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after the incident. The shooting was captured on body-worn cameras and surveillance footage. The incident is under investigation by the Multi-Agency Task Force, a collaborative team that investigates officer-involved shootings.
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https://www.koat.com/article/deputy-shoots-kills-man-armed-ar-15-rifle-gun/38454395
https://abqraw.com/post/graphic-video-bcso-releases-body-camera-footage-of-deputy-involved-shooting/
https://www.aclu-nm.org/en/press-releases/aclu-nm-calls-independent-investigation-fatal-shooting-bernalillo-county-sheriffs
https://news.yahoo.com/bcso-offers-video-details-shooting-200600027.html
https://www.kob.com/archive/bcso-releases-lapel-video-of-fatal-north-valley-shooting/

On November 26, 2021, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a New Mexico State Police officer arrived at a Starbucks on Promenade Boulevard in Santa Fe and was informed by employees that the store had just been robbed by a man and a woman with firearms. They fled in a black Kia without a license plate. A pursuit ensued, with them traveling south on Richards Avenue, then north on Interstate 25, and subsequently south on U.S. 285. During the chase, the female passenger, identified as Christean "Christy" Ann Dimas, fired shots at officers. Officers from the New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, and Torrance County Sheriff's Office returned fire. The vehicle crashed near Clines Corners, and the driver, Jacob Montoya, was apprehended. Dimas was found deceased in the passenger seat. Montoya was airlifted to a nearby trauma center for gunshot wounds and later booked into the Torrance County Detention Facility on multiple charges, including assaulting a peace officer and shooting from a motor vehicle.
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https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/officer-suspects-named-in-fatal-clines-corners-officer-involved-shooting/
https://www.dps.nm.gov/blog/2021/12/13/nmsp-investigates-ois-involving-torrance-county-sheriffs-office/
https://www.kob.com/archive/lapel-video-shows-chaos-of-50-mile-police-pursuit-shootout-in-new-mexico/

On 11/26/2021, Roanoke County Police Department Officer Matthew W. Jennings shot and killed Shawn Alan Smith, 52, outside Smith's home in the 4900 block of Lantern Street in the North Lakes area of Roanoke County. Police had been summoned after Smith began experiencing a mental health crisis and threatened suicide.
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Smith's wife, Lisa Smith, left the home and sought help from a neighbor. Police responded, and officers took her to a magistrate to obtain an Emergency Custody Order requiring law enforcement to transport Smith to LewisGale Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation. The order was issued at approximately 7:49 p.m.
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Police established a perimeter around Smith's home and made repeated attempts to communicate with him by telephone and loudspeaker. Police had been informed that Smith possessed a handgun and had threatened suicide. Smith eventually came outside before returning to the residence.
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According to the subsequent Commonwealth's Attorney review, Smith later emerged from the house holding a handgun. Police alleged that Smith moved toward Jennings while armed and did not comply with commands. Jennings fired twice, fatally striking Smith.
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Later federal civil-rights litigation presented a substantially more contested account of the final encounter. Smith's estate challenged whether Jennings reasonably faced an imminent threat when he fired and alleged that police mishandled a known mental health crisis despite having obtained an Emergency Custody Order specifically intended to secure psychiatric treatment for Smith.
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Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney Brian Holohan reviewed the police investigation and announced on 04/08/2022 that Jennings would not face criminal charges. Holohan concluded that Jennings reasonably feared death or serious injury and that his use of deadly force was legally justified. A separate Roanoke County Police Department Professional Standards Unit investigation concluded that Jennings complied with department policy.
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Smith's wife subsequently filed a federal civil-rights and wrongful-death lawsuit against Jennings, Roanoke County and other defendants. The litigation alleged excessive force and challenged the police response to Smith's mental health crisis. In June 2023, a federal judge allowed significant portions of the litigation to proceed.
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In September 2024, the federal court denied Jennings' motion for summary judgment on the claims against him, finding sufficient factual disputes for a jury to resolve concerning the fatal shooting. The court granted summary judgment to Roanoke County on the separate municipal-liability claim but left the claims against Jennings for trial.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Matthew W. Jennings was identified through the subsequent federal litigation as the Roanoke County Police Department officer who shot and killed Smith. The Commonwealth's Attorney declined criminal charges and the department's internal review found his actions within policy. Smith's estate subsequently pursued federal civil-rights litigation against Jennings, and in 2024 a federal judge denied his request for summary judgment, allowing the claims against him to proceed.

https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/CivicAlerts.asp?AID=4359&ARC=5921
https://www.wsls.com/news/2021/11/27/roanoke-county-police-at-scene-of-officer-involved-shooting/
https://wfirnews.com/news/roanoke-county-exonerates-officer-after-november-shooting
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/virginia/vawdce/7%3A2022cv00588/126590/56/
https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/66da855fc312b31e38e4d5a3
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nwitimes/name/shawn-smith-obituary?id=31794066

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
A Harris County Precinct 8 patrol deputy alleged that the motorcyclist appeared to be racing another motorcycle in southeast Houston and attempted to stop him.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 11/24/2021, Harris County Precinct 8 deputies attempted to stop a motorcyclist after a patrol deputy alleged he appeared to be racing another motorcycle in southeast Houston. The rider continued driving away and police escalated a high-speed pursuit that crossed several Houston-area cities. Investigators said speeds exceeded 100 mph.
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The pursuit continued through southeast Harris County toward the Highway 3 corridor. According to Precinct 8 Lt. Wayne Gerrish, the motorcyclist traveled onto Dixie Farm Road and then entered Galveston Road / Highway 3 against the direction of traffic.
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At approximately 9:45 p.m., near the 10800 block of Galveston Road and East Sam Houston Parkway South, the motorcyclist struck a curb while traveling against traffic, lost control of the motorcycle and crashed. He died from his injuries.
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The surviving public reporting establishes that police pursued the motorcycle through several municipalities at speeds exceeding 100 mph. A reliable total mileage or pursuit duration was not disclosed in the records located.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality.
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DISPOSITION:
No final publicly documented criminal or disciplinary disposition involving the Precinct 8 deputies for their role in initiating and continuing the pursuit was located.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 8 did not publicly identify the deputy who initiated the traffic stop and pursuit or the other deputy/deputies who participated in the pursuit.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/deadly-motorcycle-chase-harris-county-galveston-road/285-80e7a60c-c0d9-4699-ae5d-0ff37d092999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL1sJC6Lxmk
https://www.facebook.com/KHOU11/posts/10162014448184062/

Around 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a call about a man with a gun. Patrol officers found a woman with a fatal gunshot wound inside a neighbor's garage. Officers determined that a nearby home was involved. When they approached the house, officers heard what appeared to be a gunshot inside the residence. When they entered the house, they found the man dead of a self-inflicted gunshot.

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article256100232.html

On 11/24/2021, following the shooting of two security guards at an active strip mine near the 4000 block of Blue Creek Road, a stolen vehicle linked to the incident was located by deputies in Cullman County and police escalated a pursuit when the driver continued driving on Highway 278 West. The vehicle became stuck and the driver fled, stole another vehicle, and continued driving into Winston County where spike strips disabled the vehicle. Officers approached and found Steven Chad Wright dead inside from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reporting indicates the pursuit involved multiple agencies and followed the earlier discovery of one guard killed and another wounded at the mine site.

https://www.wbrc.com/2021/11/24/80-year-old-jefferson-co-strip-mine-security-guard-shot-killed-44-year-old-guard-shot/
https://www.wvtm13.com/article/alabama-strip-mine-security-guards-shot-blue-creek-road/38347255
https://www.trussvilletribune.com/2021/11/24/one-dead-another-injured-in-west-jefferson-county-shootings/

Police were called following reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found a 40-year-old woman with a gunshot wound. The woman was taken to a hospital. A suspect in the shooting, Jason Giuliani, was found in the same complex and only a short distance away from the home. When police contacted Giuliani, he reportedly shot and killed himself.

https://www.wesh.com/article/altamonte-springs-apartment-shots/38339163 

On November 24, 2021, while following up on a tip, Nebraska State Patrol officers spotted a vehicle with German "Pee-Wee" Pedrazo and a woman inside. When police confronted Pedrazo, he allegedly reached for a gun. A trooper shot and killed him. No BWC was provided. Pedrazo died 4 days later from injuries.

https://app.lincoln.ne.gov/aspx/cnty/sheriff/media.aspx?media=55
1. https://nebraska.tv/news/local/man-german-pedraza-dies-after-being-shot-by-trooper-in-wednesday-traffic-stop-nebraska-state-patrol-terry-wagner-john-bolduc
2. https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-nebraska-lincoln-1fe40055f6230c65304fe2a42853b88c
3. https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/breaking-reported-shooting-at-g-street-in-lincoln
4. https://www.klkntv.com/suspect-dies-in-officer-involved-shooting/
5. https://www.kibz.com/man-shot-during-narcotics-investigation-has-died/

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
Rockwall Police attempted to stop a white Chrysler 300 because the license plate displayed on the vehicle had been reported stolen.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 11/23/2021, Rockwall Police officers attempted to stop a white Chrysler 300 on Interstate 30 after determining that the vehicle was displaying a stolen license plate. The driver continued driving away, and Rockwall police escalated a pursuit eastbound on I-30 toward Fate.
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When the pursuit entered Fate, Fate Police Department officers took over the chase from Rockwall Police. The Chrysler subsequently entered the interstate median, went out of control and struck a concrete culvert. The driver was killed in the crash and a passenger was injured.
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Fatal Encounters independently records the same fatal pursuit in Fate, Texas, involving Fate Police Department and describes Rockwall Police initiating the stop over the stolen license plate before Fate police continued the pursuit.
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The surviving public reporting does not provide a reliable documented maximum speed, pursuit duration or mileage. I searched the exact crash date, vehicle description, stolen-plate reason, Fate/Rockwall location, court records, obituary material and later reporting but could not establish the driver’s identity with sufficient reliability to replace Name Not Disclosed.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality, 1 Injury.
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DISPOSITION:
No publicly documented criminal charge or disciplinary disposition involving Rockwall or Fate police officers for their roles in initiating and continuing the pursuit was located.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Rockwall Police and Fate Police did not publicly identify the officer who initiated the traffic stop and pursuit or the other officer(s) who participated in the pursuit.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

https://www.heraldbanner.com/news/local_news/one-killed-one-hurt-in-chase-crash-along-interstate-30/article_f2bc41fc-4c6e-11ec-81e2-63afadd7a87f.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/investigations-continue-two-fatal-accidents-165300249.html
https://fatalencounters.org/view/person-csv/csv/?pagenum=63

On November 23, 2021, 25-year-old Jesus Flores was shot and killed by law enforcement near 229 South Azusa Avenue in Azusa, California. According to medical examiner records and contemporaneous reporting, Flores died from gunshot wounds after deputies engaged him. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner lists Flores’s cause of death as gunshot and confirms he died on November 23, 2021, after being struck by law enforcement. The incident was documented as an officer-involved shooting, and investigators later reviewed and reported on the circumstances surrounding the encounter.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/azusa-police-shooting-officer-involved/2732622/
https://abc7.com/azusa-officer-involved-shooting-police-investigation/11152693/
https://www.presstelegram.com/2021/10/22/man-shot-and-killed-by-azusa-police/https://homicide.latimes.com/post/jesus-flores-2021-12956/

On November 23, 2021, at approximately 2:35 p.m., Pasadena Police Department officers were called to a report of a shooting at a residence where 70-year-old GevorkMinissian had been shot. Devin Edward Hall fled the scene on foot and allegedly attempted to carjack a woman by jumping into her vehicle. Hall was unable to steal the car and fled on foot. Police engaged him in a shootout.
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Hall ran onto Sunnyslope Avenue, where he allegedly attempted to carjack a second woman but again failed to take the vehicle. He reportedly held the woman at gunpoint until he was cornered by officers. Police engaged him in a shootout and he was shot and killed.

Investigation:
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is assisting the Pasadena Police Department in the investigation. The names of the involved officer(s) have not been publicly disclosed.

• https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/police-involved-shooting-in-pasadena-ends-in-fatality/
• https://abc7.com/pasadena-police-shooting-carjacking-suspect-gevork-minissian/11364572/
• https://www.latimes.com/california/story/pasadena-police-involved-shooting-november-2021

A man allegedly shot his girlfriend during a domestic dispute around 3 a.m. Deputies reported that the man then barricaded himself inside the home and subsequently shot and killed himself.

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/lake-worth/heavy-police-presence-on-7th-avenue-in-lake-worth-beach

On November 23, 2021, at approximately 9:00 a.m., a Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a motorcycle near the intersection of LA-700 and Shelly Road in Kaplan, Louisiana, due to the rider not wearing a helmet. The motorcyclist, identified as 43-year-old Kelly Vaughn (also known as Kelly Griffin), did not provide identification and reportedly gave false information regarding his identity. Police alleged that he retrieved a handgun from his saddlebag; however, they admitted that he did not threaten them. Officers drew their firearms, and Vaughn fled on foot into a dense grassy field. Law enforcement established a perimeter, and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office Special Response Team, along with Louisiana State Police, deployed aerial drones to locate him. Negotiators demanded his surrender, but Vaughn responded by firing shots at the drones and stated he would end his life rather than be taken to jail. At approximately 4:24 p.m., many hours after the standoff began, Vaughn died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the SWAT standoff. It is unknown whether he had committed any crimes, as police did not comment further.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/man-wanted-us-marshals-office-181337223.html
https://www.gueydantoday.com/news/vermilion-parish-sheriffs-deputies-attempt-capture-federal-fugitive-ends-fugitive-taking-his
https://shreveportmag.com/montana-fugitive-takes-his-own-life-following-traffic-stop-in-louisiana

On 11/22/2021, U.S. Marshals were attempting to serve an arrest warrant in the 700 block of N Sunset Avenue in West Covina, California. According to law enforcement, the individual ran from officers and allegedly produced a firearm. A West Covina police officer assigned to the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force opened fire, killing the individual.

• https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/west-covina-police-shooting-11-22-21/
• https://www.latimes.com/california/story/west-covina-police-shooting-november-2021
• https://abc7.com/west-covina-shooting-u-s-marshals-task-force-incident/

On November 22, 2021, Warwick Police Department officers responded to a welfare check at the Lockwood Condominiums, located at 3524 West Shore Road in Warwick, Rhode Island. The call was initiated by a family member concerned about Frank J. Nappa Jr., who was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis and armed with a loaded firearm. Nappa exited the condominium multiple times, each time holding a rifle and pointing it at the officers before retreating inside. Despite repeated commands to disarm, Nappa emerged a third time, advancing toward the officers with the rifle aimed in their direction. Officer Justin Martin open fire, striking Nappa. Immediate medical assistance was provided, and Nappa was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Subsequent investigations by the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office and the Rhode Island State Police concluded that the use of lethal force was legally justified.

https://turnto10.com/i-team/warwick-police-officer-report-shooting-legally-justified-attorney-generals-office-police-emergency-semi-automatic-rifle-lockwood-condominiums-investigation-february-24-2023
https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/west-bay/warwick-police-id-man-shot-killed-by-officer-during-armed-standoff/

On November 22, 2021, Kansas City Police responded to reports of a man standing in the middle of the road and jumping into traffic in the 600 block of North 57th Street. Upon arrival, officers observed Lionel Womack, a 35-year-old former detective for the Kansas City Police Department, running toward them.
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Womack reportedly entered the driver's seat of a patrol car, leading to a struggle during which he allegedly disarmed an officer and pointed the firearm at another officer. In response, officers shot and killed Womack. The officer involved in this incident had previously been involved in a fatal shooting.
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Total fatalities and injuries: One fatality (Lionel Womack).
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https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article255970171.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kansas-police-fatally-shoot-black-man-who-was-ex-detective-n1284605
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/us/kansas-city-police-shooting.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/11/24/kansas-police-shooting-lionel-womack/
 

On 11/22/2021, Merced Police Department officers responded to reports of an armed robbery at a convenience store on G Street and learned a second robbery attempt had occurred nearby. Witnesses directed officers toward Rodolpho Antonio Ruiz, and officers chased him through a residential area after locating him while he was carrying a gun. Officers confronted him and gunfire occurred after he did not relinquish the weapon. Officers shot him and he died at the scene. Reporting described the earlier incidents including a store employee held at gunpoint and shots fired inside a business prior to the police encounter, and investigators recovered a firearm and reviewed surveillance and body camera footage as part of the inquiry.

https://abc30.com/merced-police-shooting-suspect-killed-officer-opens-fire-involved/11265035/
https://www.crimevoice.com/2021/12/02/identity-of-suspect-released/

On 11/22/2021, Fall River police responded to a Lowell Street address to take a report from a woman who said she was assaulted two days earlier and identified Anthony Harden, 30, as the person involved. Police then went to 120 Melville St. to arrest Harden. Inside Harden’s apartment, police said a struggle started and an officer fired two shots that hit Harden. Police claimed a knife was present and later said Harden tried to stab an officer. Harden’s family publicly disputed the police narrative and pressed for records and evidence. Reporting at the time noted Fall River did not have body cameras, so there was no body camera video of the shooting. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office investigated.

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/seekonk-burglary-suspect-who-died-in-shootout-with-police-is-identified/2577704/
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/police-justified-shooting-killing-jeffrey-groulx-seekonk/
https://www.wmur.com/article/massachusetts-police-officers-justified-in-shooting-and-killing-new-hampshire-man-officials-say/38638266
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/12/29/investigation-police-justified-in-shooting-killing-man/
https://fallriverreporter.com/officials-release-more-details-name-of-man-involved-in-fatal-route-6-shooting-b/
https://wbsm.com/seekonk-killed-shooting-police-identified/
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/11/29/seekonk-shootout-man-killed-identified/
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/break-in-suspect-killed-in-shootout-with-seekonk-police-identified-as-jeffrey-groulx/
https://bristolda.com/2021/11/seekonk-update/
https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/archive/2021/12/30/investigation-police-justified-in-shooting-killing-man/
https://www.abc6.com/police-respond-to-large-scene-in-seekonk/
https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/11/29/groulx-seekonk-break-in-police-shooting-suspect
 

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
At approximately 5:30 a.m., Sanger Police responded to reports of possible vehicle burglaries in the 300 block of North 5th Street. Officers located a white Ford extended-cab pickup they believed was connected to the reported burglaries and attempted a traffic stop. The 14-year-old driver continued driving away and police escalated a pursuit.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 11/21/2021, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Sanger Police officers attempted to stop the pickup in the 300 block of North 5th Street. Police pursued the vehicle south through Sanger until, approximately one-half mile from the attempted stop, the 14-year-old driver lost control and crashed into a tree in the 700 block of South 5th Street.
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Nelson, Brian Atian Hutson, 16, and Kevin Xzavier Angeles, 14, were killed. The 14-year-old driver and an 18-year-old passenger survived. All three teenagers who died were passengers.
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Nelson was born on 02/02/2006 and lived in Argyle, Texas. Denton-area death records identify his full name as Nelson Steven Candelario Lopez Vargas and confirm that he died in Sanger on 11/21/2021.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
3 Fatalities, 2 Injuries.
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DISPOSITION:
Sanger Police reported that charges were pending following the crash. The surviving driver was 14 years old.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Sanger Police did not publicly identify the officer who initiated or participated in the pursuit.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/3-killed-2-hurt-during-police-pursuit-sunday-morning-in-sanger-pd/2822322/
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/11/22/3-teenagers-killed-in-car-crash-while-trying-to-flee-traffic-stop-sanger-police-say/
https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2021/11/24/teens-from-argyle-northlake-die-in-sanger-crash/
https://fatalencounters.org/view/person/victim/927ec970/
https://www.dentonpl.com/public/sc/death_indexes/obituaryindex202029.pdf

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
At approximately 5:30 a.m., Sanger Police responded to a report of possible vehicle burglaries in the 300 block of North Fifth Street near Interstate 35. Officers saw a white Ford extended-cab pickup they believed was connected to the reported burglaries and attempted a traffic stop.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 11/21/2021, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Sanger Police officers responding to reported vehicle burglaries located the white Ford pickup in the 300 block of North Fifth Street and attempted to stop it. The 14-year-old driver continued driving away and police escalated a pursuit south on Fifth Street.
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The pursuit was exceptionally short geographically. Police reported that the pickup traveled approximately one-half mile before the driver lost control and crashed into a tree in the 700 block of South Fifth Street. Three of the five teenagers in the truck were killed. The surviving 14-year-old driver was critically injured, while an 18-year-old passenger was hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
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The three teenagers killed were Kevin Xzavier Angeles, 14, Nelson Steven Candelario Lopez Vargas, 15, and Brian Atian Hutson, 16. All three were passengers; the 14-year-old driver survived. Contemporary reporting does not provide a reliable maximum pursuit speed or elapsed pursuit time beyond establishing that the crash occurred approximately one-half mile after police attempted the stop.
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Kevin was a ninth-grade student at Byron Nelson High School. Born in Pensacola, Florida, he had lived in Florida, Mexico, Dallas and Northlake, Texas. He enjoyed soccer, wrestling, music, video games, being outdoors and spending time with friends and family, and was looking forward to trying out for his school's soccer and wrestling teams. He left behind his parents, two brothers and a sister.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
3 Fatalities, 2 Injuries, one of whom was critical.
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DISPOSITION:
Sanger Police initially reported that charges were pending following the crash. The surviving driver was 14 years old, limiting the amount of subsequent juvenile-court information available publicly.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Sanger Police did not publicly identify the officer who initiated or participated in the pursuit.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/3-killed-2-hurt-during-police-pursuit-sunday-morning-in-sanger-pd/2822322/
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/11/22/3-teenagers-killed-in-car-crash-while-trying-to-flee-traffic-stop-sanger-police-say/
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/3-dead-after-burglars-crash-fleeing-sanger-police/
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/3-killed-crash-eluding-sanger-texas-police-juveniles-surviving-driver-14/
https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2021/11/24/teens-from-argyle-northlake-die-in-sanger-crash/
https://www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com/m/obituaries/kevin-angeles/
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/kevin-angeles-obituary?id=31724956
https://fatalencounters.org/view/person/victim/927ec970/
https://www.univision.com/local/dallas-kuvn/se-salio-cuando-estabamos-dormidos-y-tuvo-el-accidente-abuela-de-menor-muerto-en-accidente-fatal-en-sanger-video

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
At approximately 5:30 a.m., Sanger Police responded to reports of possible vehicle burglaries in the 300 block of North 5th Street. Officers located a white Ford extended-cab pickup they believed was connected to the reported burglaries and attempted a traffic stop. The 14-year-old driver continued driving away and police escalated a pursuit.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 11/21/2021, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Sanger Police officers attempted to stop the pickup in the 300 block of North 5th Street. Police pursued the vehicle south through Sanger until, approximately one-half mile from the attempted stop, the 14-year-old driver lost control and crashed into a tree in the 700 block of South 5th Street.
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Five teenagers were inside the pickup. Brian Atian Hutson, 16, Kevin Xzavier Angeles, 14, and Nelson Steven Candelario Lopez Vargas, 15, were killed. The 14-year-old driver and an 18-year-old passenger survived.
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Brian was born Brian Encinas Ortiz on 05/10/2005 in Tucson, Arizona, and became a Hutson in 2009. He was a high-school junior, a proud member of the Tohono O’Odham Nation, taught himself to play piano, made music on his phone and loved airplanes and sports. He left behind his parents and siblings.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
3 Fatalities, 2 Injuries.
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DISPOSITION:
Sanger Police reported that charges were pending following the crash. The surviving driver was 14 years old.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Sanger Police did not publicly identify the officer who initiated or participated in the pursuit.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/3-killed-2-hurt-during-police-pursuit-sunday-morning-in-sanger-pd/2822322/
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/11/22/3-teenagers-killed-in-car-crash-while-trying-to-flee-traffic-stop-sanger-police-say/
https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2021/11/24/teens-from-argyle-northlake-die-in-sanger-crash/
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/keller-tx/brian-hutson-10456855
https://www.dallasnews.com/espanol/al-dia/dallas-fort-worth/2021/11/23/mueren-tres-adolescentes-de-14-15-y-16-anos-en-persecucion-policial-en-el-norte-de-texas/

Azarel Gonzalez allegedly had boxed in his ex-girlfriend's vehicle and approached her with a gun. Responding officers arrived at 3:53 a.m., and Gonzalez exited his vehicle with a rifle. He reportedly approached her car and shot and killed himself. One of the officers shot a rifle at him, but reportedly hit nothing. He reportedly threatened suicide prior to police arrival.

https://myrgv.com/featured/2021/12/10/man-threatened-suicide-before-killing-himself-during-weslaco-police-shooting/#google_vignette

On 11/21/2021, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies on patrol were directed to a Metro platform near the 11600 block of Willowbrook Avenue after reports that a person had been shot there. Deputies located Anthony Hollenbeck on the platform while he was holding a firearm and moved to confront him. Deputies fired their weapons and struck him, and he died at the scene. Reporting indicated another individual had been killed shortly before deputies arrived and investigators used surveillance video and witness statements to reconstruct the sequence of events during the encounter and the preceding fatal shooting.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-11-21/sheriffs-deputy-shoots-a-man-after-a-killing-at-willowbrook-metro-station-tv-news-says
https://abc7.com/willowbrook-shooting-los-angeles-county-sheriffs-department-metro-station-green-line/11260592/
https://www.foxla.com/news/lasd-releases-video-of-nov-2021-deadly-shooting-on-metro-rail-platform-in-willowbrook

On November 21, 2021, at approximately 10:00 p.m., officers from the Louisiana State Police and the East Jefferson Levee District Police Department were directing traffic at the intersection of Airline Highway and Severn Avenue in Metairie, Louisiana, due to traffic signal repairs. Several concerned motorists alerted the officers to a man walking along Airline Highway near Causeway Boulevard, armed with a firearm and a knife. The individual was identified as 52-year-old Jabari Farafiai Asante-Chioke of LaPlace. He fled on foot when police demanded that he stop. A trooper fired a Taser. Asante-Chioke turned and pointed a gun. A state trooper and two East Jefferson Levee District officers all opened fire at the same time and killed him. He was pronounced dead on the highway.
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TOTAL FATALITIES:
Fatalities: 1 (Jabari Farafiai Asante-Chioke)

https://www.wdsu.com/article/laplace-man-lsp-trooper-shooting/38345806
https://www.lobservateur.com/2021/11/25/laplace-man-killed-in-jefferson-parish-shooting
https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/jefferson/louisiana-state-police-identify-man-killed-airline-highway/289-4dd6d109-648b-4022-8c67-1d3920d0e0d3
https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-new-orleans-metairie-c810af54194b97750391cf666ed9fbba
https://www.katc.com/news/covering-louisiana/police-officers-shot-killed-man-who-pointed-gun-at-them

On 11/21/2021, Kevin Arbogast died in Centerville following an unknown encounter with law enforcement; authorities confirmed police involvement at the time of death, but public reporting did not disclose specific actions, force used, or a clear cause of death connected to the encounter.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2021/11/22/centerville-man-dies-after-police-encounter/8726408002/
https://www.kcrg.com/2021/11/22/centerville-man-dies-after-encounter-with-law-enforcement/

REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
At approximately 10:55 p.m., a Prince George’s County Police officer alleged that Smith was driving a silver Acura “in an erratic manner” in unincorporated Hyattsville and initiated a traffic stop. Smith initially stopped.

EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 11/21/2021, at approximately 10:55 p.m., a Prince George’s County Police officer stopped 28-year-old Isiah Smith in unincorporated Hyattsville after alleging that he was driving erratically. When the officer approached the Acura on foot, Smith drove away. The officer returned to the patrol vehicle, activated emergency lights and siren, and police escalated a pursuit toward Washington, D.C.

During the pursuit, the officer broadcast the Acura’s license plate information. Another officer checked the plate and reported that the tags did not belong to the Acura. A supervisor then ordered the officer to discontinue the pursuit under department policy. Police alleged they discontinued the pursuit as Smith lost control of the Acura and crashed into a tree at Michigan Avenue and Bunker Hill Road NE in Washington’s North Michigan Park neighborhood.

The entire sequence from Smith driving away from the attempted traffic stop until the fatal crash lasted approximately 43 seconds. Prince George’s County officers reached the crash and attempted medical aid, but Smith died at the scene. He was the only person in the Acura. The available reporting does not establish a reliable pursuit speed or mileage.

The department’s Internal Affairs Division opened an investigation into the officer’s handling of the pursuit, and the officer was placed on administrative leave. Contemporary reporting noted that the publicly available version of PGPD’s general orders redacted its pursuit rules, leaving unclear precisely why the supervisor ordered the pursuit discontinued. D.C. Metropolitan Police investigated the crash itself.

TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality.

DISPOSITION:
Prince George’s County Police Internal Affairs investigated the pursuing officer’s role in initiating and continuing the fatal pursuit. No subsequent public criminal charge against the officer was located.

OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Prince George’s County Police did not publicly identify the officer who initiated and participated in the pursuit.

LITIGATION:
None found.

https://pgpolice.blogspot.com/2021/11/pgpd-investigating-fatal-crash-driver.html
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/prince-georges-county/man-killed-in-crash-after-prince-georges-county-police-pursuit/2890582/
https://wtop.com/local/2021/11/police-man-fleeing-prince-georges-co-traffic-stop-killed-in-dc-crash/
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/prince-georges-county-pursuit-fatal-crash-in-dc/65-4d79bd40-bc6e-4997-9d1c-64a68f2f3be4
https://smnewsnet.com/archives/498673/prince-georges-county-police-investigating-fatal-crash-after-erratic-driver-flees-attempted-traffic-stop/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/11/22/man-dead-crash-prince-georges-police/

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
Georgia State Patrol attempted to stop the Hyundai Sonata in the Ringgold/Catoosa County area. During the pursuit, police alleged that passenger Jake Hobbs fired multiple gunshots at the pursuing Georgia State Patrol trooper. Available reporting does not clearly establish the specific reason the trooper initially attempted to stop the vehicle before the gunfire occurred.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 11/20/2021, Georgia State Patrol pursued a Hyundai Sonata driven by 27-year-old Joseph Hunter Massengill from the Ringgold area of Catoosa County, Georgia, north across the state line into Hamilton County, Tennessee. During the multi-state pursuit, police alleged that passenger Jake Hobbs fired several shots at the pursuing Georgia State Patrol trooper.
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The pursuit continued into Tennessee, where the Tennessee Highway Patrol also became involved. Reporting stated that shots were fired at both Georgia State Patrol and Tennessee Highway Patrol during the chase. Police continued pursuing the Sonata onto Highway 153 in Hixson.
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At approximately 9:30 p.m., Massengill crashed the Sonata on Highway 153 near Boy Scout Road. Hamilton County EMS transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hobbs survived the crash, left the vehicle and was subsequently captured after authorities searched the surrounding area.
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The pursuit crossed from Catoosa County, Georgia, into Hamilton County, Tennessee, making it a substantial multi-jurisdictional chase, but the surviving public reporting located does not provide a sufficiently reliable maximum speed, exact pursuit mileage or duration to assign numerical figures.
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Massengill was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, on 01/12/1994. He moved to Crossville as a child, graduated from high school in 2012 and later returned to Kingsport. His family described him as a gifted athlete who was particularly talented at fixing and creating things. He was the father of a daughter and had previously lost another daughter.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality.
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DISPOSITION:
Passenger Jake Hobbs, 21, was arrested and faced multiple charges, including drug possession and discharging a weapon near an interstate in connection with the pursuit and alleged gunfire. Georgia State Patrol was identified as the lead agency in the pursuit and shooting investigation.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Authorities did not publicly identify the Georgia State Patrol trooper who initiated and continued the pursuit or the other officers who participated.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

https://www.timesfreepress.com/2021/nov/21/police-pursuit-ends-fatal-crash-highway-153/
https://foxchattanooga.com/news/local/large-police-presence-shuts-down-state-route-153-in-hixson
https://www.wdef.com/one-dead-after-multi-state-police-chase-saturday-night/
https://www.wdef.com/suspects-from-weekend-police-chase-identified/
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2021/11/21/438833/Chase-That-Started-In-Georgia-Ends-In.aspx
https://newschannel9.com/news/local/chattanooga-mother-and-daughter-witness-fatal-crash-on-highway-153-saturday-night
https://www.trinitymemorialcenters.com/obituaries/joseph-hunter-massengill
https://3bmedianews.com/joseph-joe-hunter-massengill/

On 11/20/2021, a 24-year-old individual died in Oakland following an incident involving law enforcement; authorities confirmed police involvement at the time of death, but public reporting did not disclose the specific circumstances, actions taken by officers, or the precise cause of death.

https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/person-dies-after-incident-involving-oakland-police/
https://www.ktvu.com/news/person-dies-after-oakland-police-incident

On 11/20/2021, Sara-Nicole Morales, 35, was shot and killed by police outside her home in Orange City following a reported road rage incident. Police said Morales had been involved in a confrontation with another driver that continued to her residence. Officers responded to the scene, where the encounter escalated in her front yard. An officer opened fire, striking Morales, who was pronounced dead. Authorities stated the incident was under investigation and did not immediately release additional details about the officer’s actions or the sequence of events leading to the shooting.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2021/11/21/orange-city-police-shooting-woman-killed-front-yard/8710386002/
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/11/21/woman-shot-killed-by-police-after-road-rage-incident-in-orange-city/
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/orange-city-police-shoot-and-kill-woman-after-road-rage-incident

On 11/21/2021, Greensboro Police Department officers responded to reports of a robbery and shots fired in the 900 block of South Elm-Eugene Street. Officers located Joseph Thomas Lee Lopez, 32, who had a gun. Police said Lopez fired at officers during the encounter. Officer M.E. Hamilton opened fire and shot Lopez. Lopez was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. No officers were killed. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation conducted the independent investigation into the shooting.

/news/2022-06-07/greensboro-police-officer-faces-manslaughter-charge-in-fatal-shooting
https://triad-city-beat.com/joseph-lopez/
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/crime/former-gpd-officer-manslaughter-charge-court/83-a2049ddb-89b1-4f0c-800c-1cff23465404 .
https://www.wfdd.org/2025-05-07/greensboro-reaches-settlement-for-fatal-police-shooting-of-joseph-lopez

On 11/19/2021, Christopher Wade died in Montcalm in Raleigh County following an incident involving law enforcement; authorities confirmed police involvement at the time of death, but public reporting did not disclose detailed circumstances, the actions taken by officers, or a definitive cause of death.

https://www.wvnstv.com/news/west-virginia-state-police-investigate-death-in-raleigh-county/
https://wchstv.com/news/local/west-virginia-state-police-investigating-death-in-raleigh-county
https://www.wsaz.com/2021/11/20/wvsp-investigating-death-following-law-enforcement-incident-raleigh-county/

On 11/19/2021, Ajmal Amani died in San Francisco following an unknown encounter with law enforcement; police confirmed involvement at the time of death, but public reporting did not disclose the specific circumstances of the encounter, the actions taken by officers, or the precise cause of death.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Man-dies-after-police-encounter-San-16529692.php
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/man-dies-after-police-encounter-in-san-francisco/

On November 18, 2021, police sought Chucky Nathaniel Bowden, 53, in connection with an armed robbery earlier that day. Officers spotted Bowden's vehicle and initiated a pursuit, during which Bowden reportedly crashed his car. Shots were exchanged before Bowden fled to a nearby store where he allegedly held multiple people hostage. Police entered the store, and during the confrontation, Bowden was fatally shot by officers. The circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire remain under investigation.
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Total Fatalities/Injuries:
1 Fatality (Chucky Nathaniel Bowden)

https://www.facebook.com/DavidsonCoSheriffsOffice/posts/174414428211809/
• https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/man-dead-after-hours-long-standoff-where-shots-fired-at-davidson-county-deputies-sheriffs-office-says/
• https://www.facebook.com/societyalert/posts/382643806890427/

On 11/18/2021, Santa Rosa Police Department officers responded to reports of possible gunfire near Peach Court and located Jordon Pas outside while he was holding an object later identified as a rock. Officers deployed conducted energy weapons multiple times, forced him to the ground, restrained him, and detained him as he bled from head injuries sustained during the encounter. Pas became unresponsive and died shortly afterward. The death was later ruled a homicide associated with restraint and force used during arrest, prosecutors declined charges, and civil litigation by family members resulted in a multimillion dollar settlement.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/santa-rosa-facing-lawsuit-year-after-man-died-during-arrest/
https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/man-dies-after-santa-rosa-police-use-stun-gun-twice-in-under-a-minute/
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sheriffs-investigation-reveals-new-details-about-mans-death-in-santa-rosa/
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/09/25/santa-rosa-to-pay-3m-to-family-of-man-who-died-after-2021-police-arrest/

On November 17, 2021, officers from the Waynesboro Police Department were dispatched to the 700 block of Wayne Street due to a report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, they encountered Sylvester Tart, who had locked himself inside a closet. When instructed to surrender, Tart began shooting through the door. Police shot and killed him.
.

https://www.magnoliastatelive.com/2021/11/18/mississippi-officers-shoot-kill-home-invasion-after-he-starts-firing-gun-from-inside-closet/
https://www.wdam.com/2021/11/18/waynesboro-police-shoot-man-barricaded-inside-closet/

On 11/17/2021, Poplar Bluff Police Department officers responded to a burglar alarm at a business along Highway 53 shortly after midnight and encountered Bennie D. Foster outside the location. Officers confronted him while he was holding a weapon and fired their weapons during the encounter, striking him. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner. Authorities identified him later that day, placed four involved officers on administrative leave, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.

https://www.kfvs12.com/2021/11/17/mshp-investigating-officer-involved-shooting/
https://www.ky3.com/2021/11/18/patrol-poplar-bluff-police-fatally-shoot-burglary-suspect/
https://www.kbsi23.com/news/1-dead-after-officer-involved-shooting-in-poplar-bluff/

On 11/17/2021, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office personnel went to 455 Jordan Road to arrest Kevin Mark Soles on an outstanding armed robbery warrant. He ran into a wooded area behind the residence and multiple agencies joined the search. Officers located him in the woods while he was holding a handgun and maintained a prolonged standoff that included negotiation attempts and use of less lethal rounds. Gunfire occurred during the encounter and officers shot him. He was transported to a hospital where he died. A handgun was recovered at the scene and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation handled the independent review.

https://www.41nbc.com/officer-related-shooting-in-byron-leads-to-gbi-investigation/
https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/gbi-armed-robbery-suspect-fatally-shot-after-pointing-gun-at-officers/ANEVMJRNRRDKJPRT2MCYB5DSAE/
https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/bibb-county-man-shot-and-killed-by-police-after-pointing-gun-at-officers-during-standoff/

On 11/17/2021, multiple law enforcement agencies responded to reports of Brian Jessee behaving erratically with children inside a residence at 118 Sunny Point Circle. Officers surrounded the home and maintained an extended standoff during which gunfire was exchanged between Jessee and officers. Officers deployed chemical agents into the residence and a fire began inside the structure. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, officers entered and found Jessee dead inside. Investigators later concluded the death resulted from the confrontation and fire conditions, prosecutors declined charges against officers, and review of the incident extended over several years due to the multi agency response and complexity of the scene.

https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/12/29/coweta-district-attorney-clears-officers-wrongdoing-2021-lagrange-shootout/
https://www.lagrangenews.com/2023/12/30/da-declines-grand-jury-for-2021-sunny-point-stand-off-death/
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/lagrange-standoff-shots-fired-sunny-point-moss-creek
https://www.lagrangenews.com/2021/12/10/watch-lpd-releases-video-footage-from-18-hour-standoff-on-sunny-point-circle/

On 11/17/2021, Altoona City Police Department personnel responded to a courthouse holding cell incident at 615 Fourth St involving a detained individual and corrections officer Rhonda Jean Russell. During the confrontation the detained individual gained control of a firearm inside the cell area. An officer fired toward the detained individual and struck Russell. She died from the gunshot wound. Reporting described Russell as a veteran county corrections employee working courthouse security duties, and prosecutors later reviewed the incident and declined charges while civil litigation followed the death.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania/articles/2022-07-03/da-late-officer-justified-in-accidental-shooting-death
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/da-late-officer-justified-in-accidental-shooting-death/
https://wjactv.com/news/local/rhonda-russell-estate-blair-county-co-corrections-officer-line-of-duty-death-wrongful-death-lawsuit-police-officials
https://huntingdondailynews.com/news/local/rhonda-russell-death-reviewed/article