Search fatalities

On 07/25/2021, Kern County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in Wasco. During their response, deputies encountered Jose Manuel Ramirez Jr., who climbed onto the roof of the home. According to investigators, Ramirez exchanged gunfire with responding deputies, beginning a standoff that lasted for several hours.
During the confrontation, Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Phillip Campas was fatally shot and another deputy was wounded. After approximately five hours, deputies shot and killed Ramirez. Following the shooting, deputies entered the residence and discovered three people dead inside the home. They were later identified as Ramirez's two young sons and the children's mother.
The Kern County Sheriff's Office requested that the Kern County District Attorney's Office investigate the deputy-involved shooting. Publicly available records do not indicate that the deputies involved were publicly identified or that the investigation resulted in criminal charges against any law enforcement officer.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/07/26/officer-fatally-shot-in-Wasco-standoff-with-gunman/6691627285970/

On 07/25/2021, Atlanta Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire during a large block party on James Jackson Parkway NW in northwest Atlanta. According to investigators, multiple people exchanged gunfire, and at least one Atlanta police officer fired a weapon during the incident.
Gabriel "Sam" Parker was found suffering from gunshot wounds and died at the scene. Another person was also wounded but survived. Investigators recovered multiple firearms from the area. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation assumed responsibility for the independent investigation into the shooting.
Parker's family and numerous witnesses disputed the police narrative, stating that he was attempting to break up a fight when the shooting began and that he was unarmed. They questioned why police fired into the crowd and demanded that authorities identify who fired the shot that killed Parker. Family members held vigils and repeatedly called for the release of body-camera footage and investigative findings.
In 2024, Parker's family filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Atlanta, alleging that an Atlanta police officer unlawfully shot and killed him while he was trying to calm the disturbance. As of the latest publicly available reporting, the officer who fired the fatal shot had not been publicly identified, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had not publicly announced whether Parker was killed by police gunfire or by another person at the gathering.

https://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2021-07-25/gbi-investigates-officer-involved-shooting-atlanta
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/one-dead-one-injured-shootout-northwest-atlanta-gathering/L6PEDVVX2VG2LPWGKNGDDECRRA/
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/new-video-sheds-light-on-deadly-officer-involved-shooting-in-bankhead

https://www.cbs46.com/news/community-holds-vigil-for-man-killed-at-block-party/article_6dc997b8-edbb-11eb-8ec0-d7201c65ebad.html

https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/family-awaits-answers-after-2021-police-shooting/4W2V2BJDVBEC3N625R24MM5PC4/
 

.
REASON FOR POLICE ENCOUNTER:
Traffic violation. At approximately 12:30 a.m., Leon County Sheriff's Office deputies stopped a black Infiniti passenger car at West Tennessee Street and White Drive for an unspecified traffic violation. Deputies approached the vehicle and spoke with its driver and passenger.
.
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY:
On 07/25/2021, an unidentified driver of a Chevrolet passenger car was killed when a black Infiniti that had fled a Leon County Sheriff's Office traffic stop crashed into the Chevrolet at West Tennessee Street and Blountstown Highway in Tallahassee. The Chevrolet driver was an uninvolved motorist with no connection to the preceding police encounter.
.
The encounter began approximately a mile east of the eventual crash, at West Tennessee Street and White Drive. Deputies stopped the Infiniti for a traffic violation and made contact with its driver and passenger. After a brief interaction, the Infiniti suddenly accelerated westbound on West Tennessee Street.
.
As the Infiniti drove away, it ran over a deputy's foot and dragged the deputy a short distance.
.
A few moments later, authorities received a report of a two-vehicle collision approximately a mile away at West Tennessee Street and Blountstown Highway. Deputies responding to the collision recognized the Infiniti as the same vehicle that had fled the traffic stop.
.
The Infiniti had crashed into a Chevrolet passenger car and also damaged several vehicles at a nearby automobile dealership. The Chevrolet's driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
.
The Infiniti's driver and passenger were transported to a hospital. The passenger subsequently died from injuries sustained in the crash. The driver survived the initial collision and remained hospitalized when LCSO released its preliminary account.
.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
The uninvolved Chevrolet driver and the Infiniti passenger were killed. The Infiniti driver was injured, and a Leon County sheriff's deputy suffered a foot injury when the Infiniti drove away from the traffic stop.
.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Leon County Sheriff's Office deputies involved in the traffic stop have not been publicly identified in the sources located.
.

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2021/07/25/leon-lcso-pursuit-tallahassee-killed-crash-west-tennessee/8086212002/
https://www.wctv.tv/2021/07/25/2-dead-following-car-crash-tallahassee/
https://www.leoncountyso.com/portals/0/docs/news-releases/lcso-investigating-fatal-traffic-crash9b4a3f4a2c174e99b07cca01de15336e.pdf
https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2021-07-26/two-people-dead-following-traffic-stop-in-tallahassee
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/2-dead-2-injured-including-lcso-deputy-in-crash-after-traffic-stop
https://tallahasseereports.com/2021/07/25/lcso-investigating-traffic-crash-that-claims-two-lives/

David Wade Gaither, a 49-year-old White male, died by suicide during a domestic disturbance incident on July 24, 2021, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Officers from the Murfreesboro Police Department responded to a call around 10:40 p.m. about a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, Gaither’s wife reported he had been acting belligerent and punching holes in the walls and doors. As officers entered the residence, Gaither exited a bedroom, pointed a handgun at one of the officers, and reportedly pulled the trigger, but the pistol malfunctioned. Gaither then followed officers outside, firing two more shots at them in the front yard before retreating inside. After receiving no response, officers entered the home and found Gaither deceased in a bedroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/Archive/ViewFile/Item/1657?utm_ 

On 07/24/2021, New York City Police Department officers responded to Staten Island University Hospital after hospital staff reported that 22-year-old Daniel Milton had allegedly grabbed a female employee. Officers arrested Milton inside the hospital.
According to police, Milton became combative while in custody and was physically restrained. During the incident, hospital personnel administered medication. The circumstances surrounding the restraint were not fully disclosed by authorities. Milton subsequently went into medical distress and was pronounced dead several hours later.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Milton died from asphyxiation caused by restraint. The New York Attorney General's Office opened an investigation under New York's law requiring the independent investigation of deaths involving police officers.
Milton's family questioned the circumstances surrounding his death and called for greater transparency regarding the actions of police and hospital staff. As of the latest publicly available reporting, the officers involved had not been publicly identified, and no criminal charges against law enforcement officers had been publicly announced.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/nyregion/staten-island-death-police-asphyxiation.html
https://www.wabc.com/news/young-man-dies-after-arrest-at-staten-island-hospital
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-staten-island-man-death-police-20210724-ymfdg2mwoxd7pohjzy4stydvwi-story.html

On 07/24/2021, a Quogue Police Department officer attempted to stop a vehicle after observing it traveling without its headlights illuminated on Montauk Highway. When the driver continued driving away, the officer activated the patrol vehicle's emergency lights and followed the vehicle westbound. Police later stated the officer had discontinued the pursuit before the collision, although witnesses and video evidence indicated the patrol vehicle remained behind the fleeing vehicle with its emergency lights activated shortly before the crash.
Near the intersection of Montauk Highway and Quogue Street, the pursued vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound vehicle operating as an Uber. Ryan James Kiess, a passenger in the Uber, was killed in the collision along with Uber driver Farhan Zahid, passengers Michael Farrell and James Farrell, and the driver of the pursued vehicle, Justin Mendez.
The New York State Attorney General's Office reviewed the incident because it involved a police encounter preceding the fatal crash. In 2023, the Attorney General concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish that the officer's conduct caused the collision under New York law and declined to bring criminal charges. The report noted that Quogue Police Department policy prohibited vehicle pursuits for traffic infractions and found that the officer continued following Mendez after activating emergency lights despite later stating the pursuit had been terminated.
Ryan Kiess graduated from Fairfield University and worked in New York City's financial industry. Family and friends remembered him as kind, generous, and devoted to those around him. His death, along with the deaths of the other occupants of the Uber, prompted continued scrutiny of the officer's actions and the department's pursuit practices.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/nyregion/fatal-crash-montauk-highway-quogue.html
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/4-killed-in-crash-1.50240133

On 07/24/2021, a Quogue Police Department officer attempted to stop a vehicle after observing it traveling without its headlights illuminated on Montauk Highway. When Justin Mendez continued driving away, the officer activated the patrol vehicle's emergency lights and followed westbound. Police later stated the officer had discontinued the pursuit before the collision, although witnesses and video evidence indicated the patrol vehicle remained behind Mendez's vehicle with its emergency lights activated shortly before the crash.
Near the intersection of Montauk Highway and Quogue Street, Mendez's vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound Uber vehicle. Mendez was killed in the crash along with Uber driver Farhan Zahid and passengers Ryan James Kiess, Michael Farrell, and James Farrell. A total of five people died during the police encounter.
The New York State Attorney General's Office reviewed the incident because it involved a police encounter preceding the fatal crash. In 2023, the Attorney General concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish that the officer's conduct caused the collision under New York law and declined to bring criminal charges. The report noted that Quogue Police Department policy prohibited vehicle pursuits for traffic infractions and found that the officer continued following Mendez after activating emergency lights despite later stating the pursuit had been terminated.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/nyregion/fatal-crash-montauk-highway-quogue.html
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/4-killed-in-crash-1.50240133

On 07/24/2021, a Quogue Police Department officer attempted to stop a vehicle after observing it traveling without its headlights illuminated on Montauk Highway. When the driver continued driving away, the officer activated the patrol vehicle's emergency lights and followed the vehicle westbound. Police later stated the officer had discontinued the pursuit before the collision, although witnesses and video evidence indicated the patrol vehicle remained behind the fleeing vehicle with its emergency lights activated shortly before the crash.
Near the intersection of Montauk Highway and Quogue Street, the pursued vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound Uber vehicle. James Patrick Farrell Jr., a passenger in the Uber, was killed in the collision along with Uber driver Farhan Zahid, passengers Ryan James Kiess and Michael Farrell, and the driver of the pursued vehicle, Justin Mendez. A total of five people died during the police encounter.
The New York State Attorney General's Office reviewed the incident because it involved a police encounter preceding the fatal crash. In 2023, the Attorney General concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish that the officer's conduct caused the collision under New York law and declined to bring criminal charges. The report noted that Quogue Police Department policy prohibited vehicle pursuits for traffic infractions and found that the officer continued following Mendez after activating emergency lights despite later stating the pursuit had been terminated.
James Patrick Farrell Jr. was remembered by family and friends as a devoted older brother and a caring friend. He died alongside his younger brother, Michael Farrell. Their deaths deeply affected their family and community.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/nyregion/fatal-crash-montauk-highway-quogue.html
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/4-killed-in-crash-1.50240133

On 07/24/2021, a Quogue Police Department officer attempted to stop a vehicle after observing it traveling without its headlights illuminated on Montauk Highway. When Justin Mendez continued driving away, the officer activated the patrol vehicle's emergency lights and followed westbound. Police later stated the officer had discontinued the pursuit before the collision, although witnesses and video evidence indicated the patrol vehicle remained behind Mendez's vehicle with its emergency lights activated shortly before the crash.
Near the intersection of Montauk Highway and Quogue Street, Mendez's vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound Uber vehicle driven by Farhan Zahid. Zahid was killed in the collision along with his passengers Ryan James Kiess, James Patrick Farrell Jr., and Michael Farrell, as well as Justin Mendez. A total of five people died during the police encounter.
The New York State Attorney General's Office reviewed the incident because it involved a police encounter preceding the fatal crash. In 2023, the Attorney General concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish that the officer's conduct caused the collision under New York law and declined to bring criminal charges. The report noted that Quogue Police Department policy prohibited vehicle pursuits for traffic infractions and found that the officer continued following Mendez after activating emergency lights despite later stating the pursuit had been terminated.
Farhan Zahid was working as an Uber driver at the time of the crash. Family members described him as a devoted husband and father who had immigrated from Pakistan and was working to support his family. His death left behind his wife and young child.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/nyregion/fatal-crash-montauk-highway-quogue.html
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/4-killed-in-crash-1.50240133

On 07/24/2021, Boise Police Department officers responded to reports of a person staying in an alley near North 21st Street and Madison Avenue. Officers located 31-year-old Forrest T. Moore and attempted to contact him.
According to Boise police, Moore was holding what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it toward one of the officers. An officer fired, striking Moore. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators later determined that the object Moore was holding was a realistic-looking BB gun rather than a firearm. The Ada County Critical Incident Task Force investigated the shooting, and the Ada County Prosecutor's Office later concluded the officer's use of deadly force was legally justified under Idaho law. The officer involved was not publicly identified.
Moore's family questioned the shooting and noted that the object was not a real firearm. The case drew attention to the dangers posed by realistic replica weapons and the difficulty officers face in distinguishing them from actual firearms during rapidly unfolding encounters.

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article253041553.html

On 07/24/2021, Marble Falls Police attempted to stop a motorcycle driven by Robert Williams after an officer observed an expired registration. Williams continued driving away while Marble Falls police pursued. The pursuit continued west on U.S. Highway 71 into Llano County, with speeds reported to exceed 100 mph. Deputies from the Llano County Sheriff's Office joined the pursuit as it crossed county lines.
According to investigators, Williams repeatedly passed other vehicles in no-passing zones, drove into oncoming traffic, and used the highway shoulder to overtake traffic while Farren Michelle Hawkins rode as his passenger. Near Marble Falls, Williams attempted to pass another vehicle on the right shoulder, clipped the vehicle, lost control of the motorcycle, and both riders were thrown from the bike.
Williams sustained serious injuries and survived. Hawkins suffered catastrophic head and multiple traumatic injuries and was airlifted to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin. After four days of treatment, she died from her injuries on 07/28/2021.
The pursuit, which began over an expired registration violation, later became the focus of a murder prosecution against Williams rather than a review of the officers' actions. Burnet County prosecutors argued that by choosing to continue driving at extremely high speeds while police pursued, Williams knowingly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death to Hawkins and the public. In September 2022, a jury convicted Williams of murder for Hawkins' death and sentenced him to 28 years in prison. He was also convicted of evading arrest with a motor vehicle.
The publicly available reporting does not identify the pursuing officers, nor does it indicate that any outside agency found Marble Falls Police or the Llano County Sheriff's Office violated pursuit policy. We found no publicly reported civil lawsuit filed by Hawkins' family challenging the pursuit itself. The criminal case instead focused almost entirely on Williams' actions during the pursuit and his responsibility for Hawkins' death.

https://www.dailytrib.com/2022/09/16/man-guilty-of-murder-in-motorcycle-chase-death-gets-28-years/
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hill-country/marble-falls-man-sentenced-to-28-years-in-connection-with-deadly-police-chase/
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/marble-falls-deadly-motorcycle-chase/269-0a5a9319-e7a2-4e53-a4f7-9a54a6f8f883

On 07/24/2021, a Springfield Township Police Department officer attempted to stop a vehicle after observing it traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph. When the driver continued driving away, officers initiated a pursuit through Springfield Township.
The pursuit ended at the intersection of Galbraith Road and Winton Road when the pursued vehicle entered the intersection and collided with another vehicle driven by 51-year-old Yvette C. Smith. Smith sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead. The driver of the pursued vehicle continued on foot after the crash before being taken into custody by officers.
Yvette C. Smith was a longtime Cincinnati-area resident who was remembered by family and friends for her kindness, generosity, and devotion to her family. Her death prompted an outpouring of grief from loved ones, who described her as someone who always put others first.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction Unit investigated the collision. Publicly available records do not indicate that the pursuing officer was publicly identified or that the incident resulted in criminal charges against any law enforcement officer or a wrongful death lawsuit. The driver of the pursued vehicle was later prosecuted on multiple felony charges arising from the crash.

.

https://www.wlwt.com/article/police-woman-killed-after-man-speeds-in-excess-of-100-mph-crashes-in-springfield-township/37119943
https://local12.com/news/local/man-accused-of-driving-more-than-100-mph-in-springfield-twp-arrested-after-deadly-crash-cincinnati-ohio-galbraith-yvette-smith-andre-christopher-police-crime-winton
https://www.wlwt.com/article/driver-involved-in-deadly-springfield-township-crash-heartbroken-to-learn-of-yvette-smiths-death/37124339

On 07/24/2021, a Quogue Police Department officer attempted to stop a vehicle after observing it traveling without its headlights illuminated on Montauk Highway. When the driver continued driving away, the officer activated the patrol vehicle's emergency lights and followed the vehicle westbound. Police later stated the officer had discontinued the pursuit before the collision, although witnesses and video evidence indicated the patrol vehicle remained behind the fleeing vehicle with its emergency lights activated shortly before the crash.
Near the intersection of Montauk Highway and Quogue Street, the pursued vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound Uber vehicle. Michael Farrell, a passenger in the Uber, was killed in the collision along with Uber driver Farhan Zahid, passengers James Patrick Farrell Jr. and Ryan James Kiess, and the driver of the pursued vehicle, Justin Mendez. A total of five people died during the police encounter.
The New York State Attorney General's Office reviewed the incident because it involved a police encounter preceding the fatal crash. In 2023, the Attorney General concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish that the officer's conduct caused the collision under New York law and declined to bring criminal charges. The report noted that Quogue Police Department policy prohibited vehicle pursuits for traffic infractions and found that the officer continued following Mendez after activating emergency lights despite later stating the pursuit had been terminated.
Michael Farrell was remembered by family and friends as a kind and outgoing young man. He died alongside his older brother, James Patrick Farrell Jr., in the crash. Their deaths profoundly affected their family and community.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/nyregion/fatal-crash-montauk-highway-quogue.html
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/4-killed-in-crash-1.50240133

On 07/23/2021, retired Rock Hill Police Department Lieutenant Larry Vaughan was found beaten to death inside his apartment in downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina. Earlier that evening, Vaughan had spent several hours drinking with Chester County Sheriff's Office Deputy Evan Hawthorne at a downtown bar. Although the two had only recently become acquainted, they discussed law enforcement and personal experiences during the evening.
According to evidence presented at trial, an argument developed between the two men, reportedly involving Hawthorne's comments about suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Surveillance video showed the pair engaged in a physical altercation outside the bar before they embraced and left together. Prosecutors alleged Hawthorne later followed Vaughan to his apartment, where he assaulted him, inflicting fatal blunt force injuries. Hawthorne maintained that he acted in self-defense.
Investigators with the Rock Hill Police Department identified Hawthorne as the primary suspect through surveillance footage, witness interviews, and physical evidence. Prosecutors presented evidence that Hawthorne attempted to conceal his involvement after leaving the apartment, including discarding clothing and shoes that were later recovered by investigators. He was arrested shortly after the killing and charged with murder.
On 09/02/2025, a York County jury found former Deputy Evan Hawthorne guilty of murdering Larry Vaughan. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Larry Vaughan had served more than three decades with the Rock Hill Police Department before retiring in 2020. During his career, he served as a patrol officer, K-9 officer, firearms instructor, SWAT commander, and lieutenant. Colleagues remembered him as a respected leader and mentor whose death deeply affected the law enforcement community throughout the region.

https://www.wbtv.com/2025/09/03/former-chester-county-deputy-convicted-murdering-retired-rock-hill-police-lieutenant/
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article311939946.html
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/former-chester-county-deputy-convicted-for-killing-retired-police-lieutenant/275-6877d816-f572-40b0-a3e0-0f3c82f/
https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/crime/article311886830.html

On 07/23/2021, San Diego Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting and located a vehicle matching the description provided by witnesses near El Cajon Boulevard and 54th Street. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but Jesus Salvador Valeta continued driving before stopping and running from the vehicle on foot into the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant.
According to investigators, Valeta tripped while running and dropped a handgun. Police stated that he picked the gun back up and, while on his knees, made a movement with it toward officers. Officers Gregory Bergman and Anthony Guerra fired their service weapons, striking Valeta. Officers rendered aid until paramedics arrived, and Valeta was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The San Diego Police Department released body-worn camera footage of the shooting several days later. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department conducted the criminal investigation under the county's officer-involved shooting protocol, while the San Diego County District Attorney's Office reviewed the officers' use of force. The District Attorney later concluded that the shooting was legally justified under California law and declined to file criminal charges against either officer.
Publicly available records do not indicate that Valeta's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit or that Officers Gregory Bergman or Anthony Guerra were disciplined in connection with the shooting.

https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/san-diego-news/san-diego-police-release-bodycam-footage-of-fatal-talmadge-shooting
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2021/07/27/suspect-who-was-fatally-shot-by-police-in-talmadge-area-idd/
https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/sdpd-releases-video-of-fatal-shooting-talmadge-area-strip-mall/509-d390a0d7-553b-4c89-9608-9e7329810101

Marcus "Money Mitch" Pettis allegedly continued driving after a drug-related traffic stop and fired at officers. He was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound a short distance from the scene.

https://www.wpbf.com/article/pbso-man-committed-suicide-after-shooting-at-deputies/37118025

On 07/23/2021, at approximately 10:19 p.m., officers with the Asbury Park Police Department responded to a residence at 305 7th Avenue after receiving reports that 27-year-old James Manzo was behaving erratically and threatening another person inside the home.
Officers attempted to communicate with Manzo but were unable to resolve the situation. According to investigators, when officers entered his room, Manzo advanced toward an officer while holding a pair of scissors and attempted to stab him. Officer James R. Crawford fired his service weapon, striking Manzo. Officers rendered aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, but Manzo died from his injuries.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office investigated the shooting. In 2022, prosecutors concluded that Officer Crawford's use of deadly force was legally justified under New Jersey law and announced that no criminal charges would be filed.
Manzo's family questioned aspects of the police response and the circumstances that led to the shooting. Publicly available records do not indicate that Officer Crawford was disciplined or that the investigation resulted in any departmental policy changes.

https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2021/07/asbury-park-man-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting-was-threatening-harm-officials-say.html
https://www.app.com/story/news/crime/2021/07/24/asbury-park-shooting-james-manzo-dead-officer-involved-shooting/8078300002/
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/asbury-park/articles/asbury-park-police-officer-fatally-shoots-man-during-incident-at-seventh-avenue-home

On 07/22/2021, around 4:05 p.m., the Duncan Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 300 block of West Maple Avenue. Officers encountered 43-year-old Shawn Daniel Tillison, who emerged from the residence with a firearm pointed into the air. Officers fired less-beanbags in an attempt to subdue him; however, Tillison allegedly pointed the firearm at the officers. They shot and killed him.

https://www.newson6.com/story/60fae7eac247800c08dc6474/osbi-investigates-after-fatal-police-shooting-in-duncan
https://apnews.com/article/police-shootings-oklahoma-duncan-a9517475a0211998052e11585013a90e

On July 22, 2021, around 6:30 p.m., a large fight erupted in the 3000 block of North Water Street in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood. Carlos Rodriguez, 40, produced a handgun and allegedly began firing into the crowd, with two shots directed toward responding plainclothes officers. Officers Suarez and Lesesane discharged their weapons, firing at least six shots, fatally striking Rodriguez.

https://6abc.com/philadelphia-shooting-officer-invovled-police-kensington/10904433/?utm_

Officers responded to a call reporting shots fired and an attempt to enter a home. As they arrived, they received another call about a neighbor firing a weapon into a home. Boerne police and a Kendall deputy found Cullen Condon on the front porch of another home. Officers ordered him to step away from the home and approach them. Condon allegedly threatened the officers with a weapon, and one officer shot and killed him.
.

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/police-man-25-killed-during-officer-involved-shooting-in-boerne 

Wichita police said officers received information that Gabriel Christian Seim was involved in past drug trafficking incidents, and he was driving a Toyota RAV4. Officers found him traveling on northbound Interstate 135, and they attempted to stop him. The RAV4 exited on 53rd Street North, heading eastbound, where it crashed into a GMC. Seim was killed in the crash. The 43-year-old man inside the GMC was injured.

https://www.ksn.com/news/local/one-killed-in-crash-at-53rd-north-and-hydraulic/

On July 21, 2021, at approximately 9:00 p.m., a Haywood County deputy initiated a traffic stop on a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 20-year-old Dalton Grey Suttles, who had outstanding felony warrants. Suttles fled westbound on U.S. 23/74 toward Jackson County. Officers from the Waynesville Police Department, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and Jackson County Sheriff's Office joined the pursuit. During the chase, Suttles crossed into the oncoming eastbound traffic lane and collided head-on with a 2005 Nissan Titan pickup truck.
.
Zenen F. Lopez-Guzman, a passenger in the Nissan Titan, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Titan sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at a nearby hospital. The incident is under review, with agencies determining compliance with pursuit policies.
.
Total Fatalities/Injuries:
• 1 Fatality (Zenen F. Lopez-Guzman)
• 1 Injury (Driver of Nissan Titan)

https://www.wyff4.com/article/deputies-1-killed-2-injured-when-man-intentionally-drives-into-oncoming-traffic-during-chase-in-haywood-county/37105004
https://wlos.com/news/local/haywood-county-sheriff-says-deputy-did-nothing-wrong-in-chase-that-ended-in-fatality
https://theonefeather.com/2022/09/02/jackson-co-man-pleads-guilty-to-second-degree-murder-in-fatal-crash/
https://wlos.com/news/local/jackson-county-man-pleads-guilty-to-killing-1-hurting-2-during-chase

On 07/20/2021, Nevada Japoy Lee Escholt died from a gunshot wound during a police response in Salt Lake City, Utah. Police responded to a report of a suicidal man at a residence near West 800 North and Redwood Road. Officers made contact with Escholt, and gunfire occurred during the encounter. Police later entered the home and found Escholt deceased. Authorities stated they could not determine whether Escholt died as a result of police gunfire or from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/07/20/salt-lake-city-police/

On 07/20/2021, Miguel F. Hernandez-Rodriguez was shot and killed by officers with the Phoenix Police Department in Phoenix, Arizona. Police responded to reports of a domestic violence incident at an apartment complex. A caller reported that her husband had struck her and was armed with a knife and that her children remained inside the apartment. Officers arrived and spoke with the woman outside. Hernandez-Rodriguez then exited the apartment holding a knife as an officer approached. Police reported that he continued moving toward officers while holding the knife. An officer opened fire, striking Hernandez-Rodriguez. He died at the scene.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2021/07/20/phoenix-police-shoot-person-roosevelt-30th-streets/8037567002/

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2021/08/04/phoenix-police-release-footage-fatal-shooting-miguel-hernandez-rodriguez/5477185001/

On July 20, 2021, around 5:00 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police responded to reports of gunfire in the 7000 block of Fishing Creek Valley Road in West Hanover Township, Harrisburg. Mitchell J. Shuller, 34, was reportedly firing a rifle at neighboring homes, with bullets striking at least two occupied residences. Upon arrival, troopers ordered Shuller to drop his weapon; however, he refused and fired in the direction of the officers. The troopers discharged their firearms, fatally wounding Shuller.
.

https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/troopers-shoot-kill-harrisburg-gunman-who-fired-toward-them/
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/police-dauphin-county-west-hanover-township/521-7aa2784d-a517-4809-b7bd-95a9a52d848b
https://www.witf.org/2021/07/20/mom-of-3-deals-with-agony-after-police-shoot-kill-gun-wielding-husband-in-dauphin-county/
 

Deputy Gregory Streeter from the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic incident around 10:30 p.m. involving Gilberto Martinez-Nava, 37, and his ex-wife. Martinez-Nava allegedly was choking his ex-wife during an argument and grabbed a knife when family members intervened. Dispatch reported that Martinez-Nava was agitated, suicidal, and a danger to his family. Streeter arrived at the home at 10:35 p.m., where he was greeted at the door by an older woman. Martinez-Nava, standing behind her, allegedly threatened the deputy with the knife. After ordering Martinez-Nava to drop the knife without compliance, Streeter shot and killed him.

https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/polk-county-deputy-shot-man-charging-at-him-with-knife-sheriffs-office-says/

On July 20, 2021, officers from the Mason Police Department responded to a report of a suicidal man at a residence on the 4700 block of Mason Montgomery Road in Mason, Ohio. A standoff ensued as officers attempted to de-escalate the situation. During the incident, the man fatally shot himself.
.

https://www.wlwt.com/article/police-1-found-dead-inside-home-after-swat-police-call-in-mason/37080658

On 07/19/2021, Jason Lee Fralick was shot and killed by deputies with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office in Cairo, Georgia. Deputies responded to a call at a residence where the homeowner asked that Fralick be removed from the property. Deputies attempted to escort Fralick away. During the encounter, deputies used a Taser and pepper spray. Fralick entered a patrol vehicle and attempted to drive it. Deputies opened fire, striking Fralick multiple times. He died at the scene. The shooting was investigated by authorities.

https://www.wctv.tv/2021/07/22/family-man-involved-grady-co-officer-involved-shooting-speaks-out/

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY:
On 07/15/2021, 32-year-old Donald C. Williamson of Wetumpka was critically injured when the 1989 Chevrolet Blazer he was driving crashed during a multi-jurisdictional police pursuit that began in Wetumpka and continued through Montgomery and back into Elmore County. Williamson died from his injuries on 07/19/2021. His passenger, 39-year-old Katie S. Foshee of Montgomery, also died from injuries sustained in the crash.
.
Wetumpka police initially attempted to stop the Blazer after receiving reports of reckless driving. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin also said officers had identified a person of interest connected to an ongoing investigation, but authorities did not publicly disclose the underlying investigation or clarify which person in the Blazer was the person of interest.
.
The Blazer continued away from Wetumpka while police pursued. Elmore County sheriff’s deputies joined after the pursuit left Wetumpka, and the chase traveled into Montgomery along Northern Boulevard before reaching Interstate 65 northbound.
.
The pursuit then continued north on I-65 toward Elmore County. Sheriff Franklin said deputies made several attempts to stop the Blazer as the pursuit continued. Williamson eventually took the Millbrook/Coosada exit at mile marker 176 and traveled toward Alabama Highway 143.
.
Elmore County deputies deployed spike strips near Cobbs Ford Road in an effort to stop the Blazer. As Williamson approached the spike strips, he maneuvered to avoid them. The Blazer left the roadway, entered a ditch and then re-entered Alabama 143, where it collided with a 2020 International MV607 commercial vehicle.
.
The collision critically injured Williamson and Foshee. Emergency personnel had to extricate Williamson from the wreckage. Both were transported to Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery in serious condition.
.
Foshee died first from her injuries. Williamson remained hospitalized but subsequently died overnight before ALEA confirmed his death on 07/19/2021.
.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Highway Patrol Division investigated the fatal collision. ALEA troopers and Millbrook police also assisted during the incident, while Wetumpka police and Elmore County deputies were the agencies specifically identified as initiating and continuing the pursuit.
.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Wetumpka Police Department officers who initiated the attempted stop and the Elmore County sheriff’s deputies who joined the pursuit and deployed the spike strips have not been publicly identified.
.

https://www.wtvm.com/2021/07/19/second-person-dies-following-thursday-police-pursuit/
https://www.wsfa.com/2021/07/19/second-person-dies-following-thursday-police-pursuit/
https://www.wsfa.com/2021/07/15/2-suspects-injured-after-multi-county-police-pursuit/
https://elmoreautauganews.com/2021/07/19/both-occupants-of-vehicle-involved-in-police-pursuit-crash-thursday-have-died-alea-reports/

On July 19, 2021, a police pursuit began in Monroe, Michigan, and continued through Toledo's Old West End. The chase involved Michael David Clifton, a 50-year-old male, driving a truck. Toledo police officers joined the pursuit, which ended when Clifton crashed into several parked cars, disabling his vehicle.
.
Clifton exited the truck and fled on foot down Scottwood Avenue and Bancroft Street while holding a gun to his head. Officers followed him to the parking lot of the Monroe Carryout, where they attempted to negotiate with him. After negotiations failed, officers opened fire, shooting and killing Clifton.
.

https://www.toledopolice.com/images/Press_Releases/News_Release_-_Michigan_Shooting_Suspect_Deceased_after_Multi-State_Pursuit_and_Standoff.pdf
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/crime/body-cam-video-shows-suspect-killed-by-toledo-police-slowly-raised-handgun-up-to-officers-news-conference-video/512-4c78ab9d-3192-418a-97b0-cac3a7b2830e
https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2021/07/21/police-chief-george-kral-fatal-officer-involved-shooting-video-michael-clifton/stories/20210721121

.
REASON FOR POLICE CHASE:
Speeding, erratic driving and operating without headlights or taillights. At approximately 12:34 a.m., a Chesapeake Police Department officer was patrolling near the I-64/I-464 interchange when a 2016 Chrysler 200 driven by Johnathan E. Earls sped past the police vehicle with its lights off. Later court records established that Earls was driving erratically and swerved in front of the officer on the High Rise Bridge. The officer stopped Earls and began approaching the Chrysler on foot, but Earls drove away and the officer pursued him east on I-64. Earls later acknowledged that he fled because he had a firearm in the vehicle and, as a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing it; the officer did not know that when the initial stop was made.
.
EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 07/18/2021, 18-year-old Jahsani Jean-Baptiste was killed when a Chrysler 200 being pursued by Chesapeake police crashed into the rear of his Honda Accord on Interstate 64 East near Mile Marker 299. Jahsani was an uninvolved motorist who happened to encounter the pursuit where traffic had already slowed because of an earlier crash.
.
The encounter began shortly after 12:30 a.m. when a Chesapeake officer saw Earls driving the Chrysler near the I-64/I-464 interchange. According to the subsequent criminal case, Earls was speeding, driving erratically and operating without headlights or taillights. The officer conducted a traffic stop, and Earls initially stopped. As the officer walked toward the Chrysler, Earls accelerated away.
.
The Chesapeake officer pursued Earls eastbound across the High Rise Bridge. Later court records substantially expanded on the limited information released immediately after the crash: Earls reached speeds of approximately 120 mph and weaved between other vehicles while the officer pursued him.
.
About 13 minutes after the officer first encountered Earls, eastbound traffic near Mile Marker 299 had slowed substantially because of an unrelated earlier crash. The prior collision had restricted traffic to a single lane. Jahsani was driving a 2005 Honda Accord in that slowed traffic.
.
Earls approached the traffic backup at extreme speed and was unable to stop. His Chrysler slammed into the rear of Jahsani's Honda, propelling the Honda into a 2013 Scion ahead of it. The occupants of the Scion were injured.
.
Data subsequently recovered from Earls' Chrysler showed that it was traveling approximately 103 mph when the collision occurred. The pursuit therefore went from speeds as high as approximately 120 mph to an impact with slowed traffic at more than 100 mph.
.
The impact left Jahsani trapped in the Honda. Responding officers initially found that he still had a pulse, but his damaged car then erupted in flames and became fully engulfed before he could be rescued. The medical examiner determined that Jahsani died from thermal burns and smoke inhalation.
.
Earls climbed from the Chrysler, jumped over a guardrail and ran into the woods. Police and K9 teams searched for him but did not locate him that night. Investigators subsequently linked Earls to the Chrysler through DNA recovered from the vehicle's airbag.
.
No PIT/TVI maneuver, stop-stick deployment, roadblock or intentional police-vehicle contact was reported before the fatal collision. The pursuit instead continued east on I-64 until Earls encountered the traffic backup and crashed into Jahsani's Honda.
.
Jahsani had graduated from Western Branch High School only weeks before he was killed. He was an honors student and a member of the school's track program who competed in multiple running events. He had earned both athletic and academic scholarship opportunities and planned to attend Wingate University in North Carolina that fall.
.
Jahsani's death occurred during an ordinary act of helping his parents. His mother, Sofia Jean-Baptiste, later testified that she and her husband had gone out together in Virginia Beach when their vehicle was towed. They called Jahsani, who came to pick them up and help them retrieve it. The family stopped for gas afterward and then headed home in separate vehicles. Jahsani's father, Jeff, kissed his son at the gas station and told him he would see him at home.
.
His parents then encountered the aftermath of the fatal pursuit while traveling home. The Honda was so badly burned that they initially could not determine whether it was Jahsani's car. When he did not answer his telephone and was not at home, they began searching for him and subsequently learned that he had been killed. His mother later described Jahsani in court as a leader and role model who was deeply focused on his education and family.
.
Earls remained at large for approximately five weeks. Newport News police arrested him during a traffic stop on 08/22/2021. He was initially charged with felony hit-and-run, felony eluding, felony homicide, felony firearm possession, reckless driving and driving while revoked.
.
Earls later admitted that he fled the traffic stop because he had a firearm in the Chrysler and knew that his status as a convicted felon prohibited him from possessing it. He also admitted throwing a liquor bottle from the vehicle while police pursued him. Those circumstances were not known to the Chesapeake officer when the officer initially stopped Earls for his driving behavior and lack of vehicle lights.
.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Chesapeake Police Department officer who stopped Earls and pursued him across the High Rise Bridge has not been publicly identified in the news reports and subsequent criminal-case reporting located for this reconstruction.
.
DISPOSITION:
Earls was ultimately convicted in connection with Jahsani's death. On 01/30/2024, Chesapeake Circuit Court Judge Andrew D. Kubovcik sentenced him to 24 years in prison, the maximum sentence recommended under Virginia's state sentencing guidelines in the case.
.

https://www.wtkr.com/news/driver-strikes-slowed-traffic-during-police-pursuit-in-chesapeake-1-person-killed-suspect-at-large
https://www.wtkr.com/news/suspect-in-chesapeake-fatal-crash-arrested-during-traffic-stop
https://sports.yahoo.com/man-arrested-chesapeake-hit-run-181900290.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-sentenced-24-years-killing-225300670.html
https://www.lovingfuneralhome.com/m/obituaries/jahsani-jean-baptiste/MemorialEvents
https://va.milesplit.com/meets/423237-se-district-boys-meet-1-2021/results/740605/raw
https://va.milesplit.com/meets/403472-grant-holloway-holiday-invitational-2021/results/716293/raw

On 07/18/2021, Clint Dearman was shot and killed by law enforcement officers in Daphne, Alabama. Officers from multiple agencies were searching for Dearman and located his vehicle near Alabama Highway 181. Police attempted to take Dearman into custody and ordered him to exit the vehicle. During the encounter, Dearman attempted to drive away. Officers opened fire, striking Dearman. He died at the scene. The circumstances of the shooting were reviewed by investigators.

https://www.fox10tv.com/news/baldwin_county/da-suspect-killed-in-baldwin-county-officer-involved-shooting-should-not-have-been-on-streets/article_865510ae-e8a8-11eb-930d-ff56a2f35d80.html

On 07/18/2021, Leslie Stephen Scarlett was shot and killed by officers with the Tucson Police Department in Tucson, Arizona. Scarlett allegedly shot multiple people — including EMTs, a firefighter, and a neighbor — after a house fire and shooting at an ambulance crew. A neighbor was killed during this spree. Police encountered Scarlett following a series of incidents at multiple locations. During the encounter near East 36th Street and South Campbell Avenue, a police vehicle was struck. As an officer exited a patrol vehicle, police reported that Scarlett fired a gun. Officers opened fire, striking Scarlett. He died at the scene.

https://www.azfamily.com/news/suspect-opens-fire-on-emts-fire-crews-neighbors-in-tucson/article_1c4806ec-e83c-11eb-bcc1-535b6860302c.html

Irvin Peterson allegedly called 911 and stated he was going to hurt people and then officers. When police arrived, Peterson reportedly shot at them. In response, officers shot and killed him.

https://abc13.com/deadly-shooting-palace-inn-shooter-officer-involved/10896894/

On July 17, 2021, deputies with the Wise County Sheriff's Office were searching for two missing juveniles. While searching the area, a deputy reportedly spotted a vehicle parked in bushes with two people inside. As the 16-year-old male exited the vehicle, an altercation ensued. The juvenile reportedly stabbed the deputy, and the deputy responded by shooting and killing him. The 13-year-old girl inside the vehicle was not injured.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 1 fatality

https://www.wjhl.com/news/wise-co-sheriff-commonwealths-attorney-deputy-injured-in-line-of-duty-multiple-agencies-responding/

On July 17, 2021, at approximately 9:36 p.m., Las Vegas Police Department officers responded to a domestic disturbance at 1308 Keen Street in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Upon arrival, officers attempted to make contact with the reporting party. During this time, Jeffery Scott, 30, exited a nearby residence with a firearm. Scott allegedly fired multiple rounds. Two LVPD officers opened fire, killing Scott.

https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/nmsp-investigating-las-vegas-officer-involved-shooting/ [https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/state-police-investigates-shooting-involving-las-vegas-police-dept/
2. https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/investigation-underway-after-nmsp-officer-involved-shooting-in-las-vegas/

Kantrell DeShawn Head, a 30-year-old Black male, died by suicide on July 17, 2021, in Clarksville, Tennessee. Police responded to a home on Scott Drive after reports of a domestic disturbance. Officers removed a child from the home and surrounded Head, who was reportedly threatening suicide. Shortly after, Head shot and killed himself.

https://clarksvillenow.com/local/police-negotiating-with-barricaded-person-on-cranklen-circle-residents-asked-to-stay-in-homes/
 

On 07/17/2021, Maurice Sentel Mincey was shot and killed by an officer with the Savannah Police Department during a traffic stop in Savannah, Georgia. Police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in which Mincey was a passenger. During the stop, police reported that Mincey was holding a firearm as he exited the vehicle. An officer opened fire, striking Mincey. He died at the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reviewed the shooting, and the district attorney later declined to prosecute the officer involved.

https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2021/07/23/maurice-mency-killed-savannah-police-gbi-investigation-family-transparency-rjn/8058978002/

On July 17, 2021, deputies from the Madison County Sheriff's Office were executing an arrest warrant for Quentin Bogard, who was wanted for the alleged murder of his children's mother in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Bogard locked himself in a room at the Relax Inn. Police escalated a three-hour standoff. He allegedly fired shots at police. Police shot and killed him.

https://www.wjtv.com/news/murder-suspect-dead-after-standoff-with-deputies-at-canton-hotel/
https://www.whiterivernow.com/2021/07/19/update-jpd-report-man-killed-at-mississippi-hotel-was-suspect-in-earlier-jonesboro-shootingupdate-jpd-report-man-killed-at-mississippi-hotel-was-suspect-jonesboro-man-killed-by-police-at-mississippi/
https://katv.com/news/local/arkansas-man-killed-by-police-at-hotel-in-mississippi
https://apnews.com/article/police-arkansas-mississippi-cc65331e6969669310531718b18c8f3e
https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/mississippi/mississippi-news/arkansas-man-killed-by-police-at-hotel-in-mississippi/

On 07/16/2021, officers responded to a call in the 3100 block of North Sugar Road in Pharr and encountered an adult female. Police opened fire during the encounter and she died at the scene. Authorities did not release her identity in initial reporting. The Texas Rangers were assigned to investigate the incident.

https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/pharr-police-officer-involved-shooting-under-investigation/
https://www.krgv.com/news/officer-involved-shooting-in-pharr-under-investigation/
https://www.themonitor.com/2021/07/16/woman-killed-officer-involved-shooting-pharr/