Disturbing bodycam footage shows six police officers unloading their clips on a car passenger who grabbed his gun and fired during an tense standoff in the San Diego area.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department released video of the deadly encounter on Feb. 18 in San Marcos, where the 33-year-old passenger was killed after a routine traffic stop.
The footage captures deputies repeatedly shouting at Andre Raphael Mendez to drop his pistol during the increasingly chaotic encounter that stretches on for several minutes.
As Mendez refuses to surrender, deputies quickly pull the female driver from the front seat.
Several deputies bark commands before one forcefully smashes the passenger window with a baton.
The standoff reaches its breaking point when deputies deploy a taser, prompting Mendez to raise his gun and fire, triggering a barrage of shots from the officers.
The video includes footage from the six deputies at the scene as well as a bystander who recorded on their cellphone.
Before the shooting, a deputy with San Diego County Sheriff’s Office stopped the red Hyundai Sonata on for a broken taillight on North Twin Oaks Valley Road, according to NBC7.
Mendez gave the officer a fake name and a check of the vehicle suggested it could be stolen.
Mendez became uncooperative, rolling up his window an refusing to commands lower it. He then reached for a gun on the floorboard before the situation turned deadly.
Sheriffs Department personnel gave life-saving aid to Mendez at the scene, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
