Share this @internewscast.com

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California police officer has been convicted of assault with a firearm in the 2018 fatal shooting of an unarmed mentally ill man in a wealthy San Francisco suburb.

A jury in Contra Costa County agreed Tuesday that Officer Andrew Hall was guilty of the charge in the death of 33-year-old Laudemer Arboleda, an unarmed Filipino man who was slowly driving away from police when Hall shot him nine times.

The jury deadlocked on a second count of voluntary manslaughter.

The assault conviction shows that jurors believed Hall wrongfully fired his gun as Arboleda tried to evade police officers.

The events unfolded after a resident called 911 to report that a man later identified as Arboleda was knocking on doors and lingering outside homes in a Danville cul-de-sac. When officers arrived, they saw Arboleda get into into his car and drive away.

Arboleda led officers on a nine-minute slow-speed chase through Danville, a wealthy San Francisco suburb. Hall was not involved in the initial pursuit but stopped his vehicle at an intersection to block Arboleda’s car. Police video footage shows Hall stepping in the path of Arboleda’s vehicle and firing a volley of shots into the windshield and passenger-side window.

During a three-week trial, prosecutors and defense attorneys presented competing narratives of the shooting, alternately asking the jury to sympathize with the officer’s need to make split-second decisions and the troubled victim whose only crime was not stopping for police.

Prosecutors argued Hall used “excessive, unreasonable and unnecessary” force. Hall’s lawyers said the officer feared for his safety, and used body cam footage to show the right front tire of Arboleda’s car was pointed at Hall when the shooting started, indicating it was heading in his direction.

The fatal shooting cast a spotlight on what criminal justice activists call a case of delayed justice and its deadly consequences.

Felony charges were announced against Hall more than two years after Arboleda was shot. During that period, Hall, who is white, fatally shot Tyrell Wilson, a Black homeless man whose family said was suffering from depression or paranoia.

The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, which has a contract to provide police services to Danville, had cleared Hall of misconduct after a nine-month investigation into Arboleda’s shooting. Hall has been on paid administrative leave since the shooting of Wilson, which remains under investigation.

This story has been corrected to show that the jury deadlocked on a second count of voluntary manslaughter.

Source: huffpost

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

‘Driver Perplexes Police with Mattress Dangling from Ute’s Roof: Nothing Amiss’

A south-western Sydney driver has been fined after trying to drive with…

Judge Indicates Hannah Dugan Might Not Be Protected by Judicial Immunity

The image captures Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan as she exits…

What We Know About Erin Patterson So Far

She is the woman at the centre of the trial that made…

Florida Man on Meth Takes Over Tour Train for Birthday Adventure: Police Report

Background: Bodycam footage of Jonathan Winslow”s arrest (WPLG). Inset: Jonathan Winslow (Monroe…

Police Discover 4-Year-Old Boy Sitting in Dog Crate During Family Dinner

Left: Patricia L. Siercks. Right: Joshua J. Gusman (Henry County Jail). In…

Court Halts Trump Administration’s Reductions to AmeriCorps

President Donald Trump listens during a briefing with the media, Friday, June…

Teen Facing Adult Charges for Attempted Murder After Alleged Assault on Woman at Reserve at Kanapaha

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 17-year-old named Archie Sundiata Townsend, Jr.…

Family Dispute Over Damaged TV Leads to Tragic Incident, Say Police

Inset: O”Neal Robert Matthew Thompson (ECSO). The Florida home where Thompson allegedly…

Judge Cannon Encouraged to Decide on Ongoing Mar-a-Lago Matter

Left: FILE – Special counsel Jack Smith addresses the press regarding an…

Attorney Withdrawn from Alleged Murder Dentist Case Following Arson Charges

Inset: Angela Craig (Facebook). Background: James Craig in court (KUSA). The Colorado…

Trump Administration Criticizes Class Action Lawsuit by Unborn Babies

President Donald Trump speaks during an “Invest in America” roundtable with business…

Man Accused of Killing Girlfriend After Confrontation About Ex, Police Say

Left inset: Martin Mendoza (Santa Clara County Jail). Right inset: Marissa DiNapoli…