A 19-year-old graffiti vandalism suspect who was fatally shot by a Riverside police officer near the UC Riverside campus was holding a pistol in his hand when he turned to face the officer, according to video released Tuesday.
Riverside Police Department Chief Larry Gonzalez posted a “Critical Incident Video” for the public to view and see for itself what transpired on the afternoon of March 9.
It can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOYI3aUOeRM.
Gonzalez provided a narrative that was interspersed with tape from several patrol officers’ body-worn cameras, complete with audio during the foot pursuit.
According to the chief, Jehlani Black of Riverside was huddled with several juveniles in the 3700 block of Iowa Avenue about 4:30 p.m. on March 9, allegedly spray-painting undisclosed marks and letters on the side of an apartment building.
A good Samaritan spotted the activity and yelled at the group to stop vandalizing the property, at which point Black allegedly turned and brandished a semiautomatic pistol in his waistband, according to the video.
The witness called 911, and multiple patrol units converged on the area, prompting the suspect and his cohorts to flee, Gonzalez said.
“Mr. Black ran south on Cranford Avenue, and two patrol officers pursued him,” the chief said. “They could see he was running away with a handgun.”
In one segment, a female officer is trying to catch up to Black, who is increasing the distance between them, and she radios her position and the suspect’s location.
“Mr. Black ran across University Avenue when an assisting officer stopped his police vehicle in the street and also ran after him,” the chief said.
The assisting officer’s camera shows him initially 30 feet behind the suspect, who ducks underneath medal railing on a handicap access ramp leading into a building at 1510 University Ave.
“He turned toward the officer with the gun in his right hand,” Gonzalez said.
The officer, who is holding his police-issued handgun in his left hand, yells at Black to “get on the ground, get on the ground!”
The lawman, about 10 feet from the suspect, then orders him to “drop it!” and fires two rounds into Black’s right upper body, at which point he instantly collapses to the ground and moans.
Black was handcuffed and searched. Gonzalez said officers initiated CPR when the suspect went into cardiac arrest. Paramedics were cleared to enter the location and attempt life-saving measures, but Black died at the scene minutes later, according to Gonzalez.
No officers were injured. The suspect’s gun was shown to be a .38-caliber pistol.
“Our officers do everything possible to de-escalate the situations they encounter, and when any type of force is used, it is taken very seriously,” the chief said.
He said the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is handling the officer-involved shooting investigation, with help from the District Attorney’s Office, which will be the final authority in determining whether the shooting was warranted or excessive force was employed.
A 16-year-old boy allegedly with Black before the foot chase was arrested on suspicion of gang graffiti vandalism and released to the custody of his parents, according to Gonzalez.
No other suspects were identified or arrested.