Critical Incident OIS 21012414 – November 23, 2021
Pasadena Police Community Briefing Video of November 23, 2021 Officer Involved Shooting
On Tuesday November 23rd, 2021, Pasadena Police Department received several calls to 9-1-1 regarding a shooting that had just occurred in the area of Sunnyslope Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard. Callers reported a male had been struck by gunfire and provided a detailed description of the person responsible for the shooting. Officers arrived within minutes and an officer involved shooting occurred
The Critical Incident Briefing video provides an overview of the entire incident and the posted videos include officer worn body camera footage, in-car video footage and audio recordings along with a short explanation of video content. The violent actions of the suspect lasted approximately 15 minutes, spanned a two-block area and consisted of four different crime scenes. This material is meant to provide the public with a more clear understanding of the incident as the events of that tragic day unfolded.
This Officer Involved Shooting is actively being investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the City of Pasadena. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Pasadena Police at (626)- 744-4241 or you may report information anonymously by calling "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), by using your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
WARNING - The video and audio recordings that you are about to watch contain graphic images and language that may not be suitable for minors.
9-1-1 Calls
Audio Recording #1: 9-1-1 Call
Audio Recording #2: 9-1-1 Call
Audio Recording #3: 9-1-1 Call
Audio Recording #4: 9-1-1 Call
Audio Recording #5: 9-1-1 Call
Audio Recording #6: Police Department – Communication’s main frequency
These videos are the actual footage from the Critical Incident. Current California law allows for the redactions of the released videos to, among other things, avoid endangering any person and/or to protect a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy. Due to the size of several of the files, they could not be posted in their entirety but are available upon request. However, the videos posted here online provide viewers with a significant view of the incident. Other videos (which are subject to similar redactions) are available upon request.
Initial Shooting Scene (Sunnyslope Ave. & Orange Grove Blvd.)
Video #1 – Cell phone video taken by a witness
This video was taken by a witness during the unprovoked shooting of a 70 year-old man by the suspect. This video was taken by a cell phone, and depicts the suspect, who is wearing a blue shirt and khaki pants, attempting to carjack a woman who was in the process of driving by the shooting scene.
Video #2 – Life saving efforts of 70 year-old victim
This is BWC camera footage from the first officer who arrived at the scene. This video depicts a community member and members of the Police Department attempting to save the life of the 70 year-old victim shot by the suspect.
Eaton Dr. - Officer Involved Shooting (OIS)
Video #3 – Officer Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage of OIS on Eaton Dr.
This is BWC camera footage from the officer who located the suspect walking on Eaton Dr. This video depicts an officer who responded to the shooting scene. He is advised of the last known direction of the suspect, and drives in that direction. The officer proceeds east on Hermanos Street from Sunnyslope Avenue, and then turns south on Eaton Drive. While driving south on Eaton Drive, the officer sees the suspect, who is wearing a blue shirt and khaki pants. Commands are given by the officer to the suspect followed by a brief exchange of gunfire in the 500-600 block of Eaton Drive between the suspect and the officer. The suspect runs south from the officer on Eaton Drive and into the backyard of a nearby residence.
Video #4 – Police vehicle dash camera footage of OIS on Eaton Drive
This video is from the dash camera of the vehicle driven by the officer in video # 3. It provides a similar view of the OIS from the perspective of a front facing camera inside of the officer’s police vehicle.
Video #5 – Ring Doorbell footage of the initial officer contact with the suspect on Eaton Drive
This video depicts the suspect walking south on the west sidewalk in the 500-600 block of Eaton Drive. The video also captures the arrival of the police officer and efforts made by the officer to create distance from the suspect. This video ends just prior to the exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the officer.
Video #5.5 – Ring Doorbell footage of officer involved shooting on Eaton Drive
This video depicts footage of an officer involved shooting with the suspect in the 500-600 block of Eaton Drive. It is a continuation of video #5. In addition to the officer involved shooting, the video also captures the arrival of additional Police Department personnel in the area.
Sunnyslope Ave - Officer Involved Shooting
Video #6 – Footage of OIS from residential surveillance camera in the 500 block of N. Sunnyslope Avenue
This video was recorded by a residential surveillance camera on the 500 block of N. Sunnyslope Avenue. The camera is on the west side of the street and faces east. Video captured by the camera includes the sound of gunshots from the original shooting on Sunnyslope Avenue south of Orange Grove Boulevard. After a period of time, it also captures the sound of gunshots from the officer involved shooting in the 500-600 block of Eaton Drive, as well as the shots fired by the suspect as he assaults and unlawfully enters the home of a woman who he ultimately takes hostage.
The suspect can be seen holding the woman hostage adjacent to a dark colored sport utility vehicle parked in a driveway across from the camera location. As officers arrive to take the suspect into custody, the suspect shoots at them, forcing the officers to take cover. Officers attempt to de-escalate the situation by instructing the suspect to release the female hostage. The suspect refuses, but loses his balance thus affording the hostage an opportunity to escape from the suspect.
An officer involved shooting takes place during which officers engage the suspect with rifles equipped with sighting optics. These optics allow officers to shoot with a greater degree of precision which affords greater public safety when the weapons are deployed. The suspect does not surrender, and continues to shoot at officers as he conceals himself behind the dark colored sport utility vehicle. Officers returned fire. It was later learned that the firearm used by the suspect shot high velocity, rifle style rounds capable of piercing the body armor that was worn by responding police personnel.
In addition to the officer involved shooting, this video also depicts the final escape of the hostage as she runs south to an adjacent residence on the east side of Sunnyslope Avenue. A police sport utility vehicle arrives at the shooting scene. After the officer involved shooting, a group of officers approaches the suspect. Several officers cover multiple angles during the approach to ensure safety should a second suspect or other threat be present. No additional suspects or threats are found, and the scene is rendered safe.
Video #7 – Footage of the OIS from south facing residential surveillance camera in the 500-600 block of N. Sunnyslope Avenue
This video was recorded by a residential surveillance camera on the 500 block of N. Sunnyslope Avenue. The camera is on the west side of the street and faces southeast. Video captured by this camera is essentially the same as the footage captured in video #6. This view captures more of the response by Police Department personnel.
Viewers will note the suspect holding the woman hostage near the dark colored sport utility vehicle parked in a driveway on the east side of Sunnyslope Avenue.
Video #8 – Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage from one of the officers involved in the shooting with the suspect
This is BWC camera footage from a different perspective than previous videos, and is from one of the officers involved in the shooting with the suspect. The camera provides only a two dimensional view, and does not capture all of what the officer hears, sees, or experiences.
Video footage begins with the officer arriving with his partner from the south. As the officer is running to where he believes the suspect may be, the footage clearly captures the sound of the suspect shooting into a residence. A woman can be heard screaming and evidence showed that the suspect unlawfully entered a residence, assaulted a female victim, and took her hostage. The suspect forced the woman to accompany him outside while he shot at police personnel (can be seen near the top right of video screen). Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation to no avail. The woman was able to escape from the suspect, at which time the officer shot at the suspect while he is hid behind a dark colored sport utility vehicle parked in a driveway on the east side of the 500 block of N. Sunnyslope Avenue. The suspect was down but continued to move while displaying his firearm.
The officer moved from one position of cover to another and was joined by a second officer. After a short period of time, the suspect fired an additional round. Additional shots were fired by officers. The female hostage ran in front of officers and then south onto the porch of an adjacent residence. When it was determined that the suspect was no longer moving, a group of officers approached the suspect. Several officers covered multiple angles during the approach to ensure safety should a second suspect or other threat be present. No additional suspects or threats were found, and the scene was rendered safe. The suspect was ultimately pronounced deceased by the senior police supervisor on scene.
Video #9 – Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage from a motorcycle officer involved in the shooting with the suspect
This is BWC camera footage from a different perspective than previous videos, and is from one of the officers involved in the shooting with the suspect. The camera provides only a two dimensional view, and does not capture all of what the officer hears, sees, or experiences.
This officer arrives on a police motorcycle, and initially responds to check for the suspect on Eaton Drive. When he realizes that the suspect made his way to the 500-500 block of N. Sunnyslope Avenue, he responds to that location. Upon arrival on Sunnyslope Avenue, the officer deploys his rifle from its security rack on the motorcycle. This portion of the video is redacted to prevent members of the public from seeing how the rifle is released from the security rack.
After retrieving the rifle, the officer takes a position of cover while another officer is involved in a shooting with the suspect. The suspect is told to drop his firearm on several occasions, however he refuses to do so. At one point, this officer goes into a prone position and fires his weapon. He is able to communicate with the hostage, and assists in directing her away from danger.
When it is determined that the suspect is no longer moving, a group of officers approaches the suspect. Several officers cover multiple angles during the approach to ensure safety should a second suspect or other threat present. No additional suspects or threats are found, and the scene is rendered safe. The suspect is ultimately pronounced deceased by the senior police supervisor on scene.
Video #10 – Dash mounted camera footage of an officer responding to the officer involved shooting
This video has no audio, and depicts the response of an officer to the scene of the officer involved shooting. Upon arrival, four officers can be seen in a position of engagement relative to the suspect. Two officers are prone, one is kneeling, and one is standing. The video shows the female hostage run south from the location to safety, and then the general movements of officers who were at the scene. This video does not capture any of the exchange of gunfire with the suspect.