A federal civil rights complaint has been filed against Sunnyvale by the family of a kid experiencing a mental health crisis who called 911 there last year and was shot dead after approaching an officer with a knife.
The Plaza Del Rey mobile home park, located close to Tasman Drive and Lawrence Expressway, was the scene of the shooting on March 24, 2024. Officers in Sunnyvale responded to a report of a guy on Vienna Drive wielding a knife while half nude, according to the Sunnyvale Department of Safety.
According to DPS, dispatchers discovered that Emmanuel Perez Becerra, 19, had phoned 911 on his own and was on the line. As officers responded, the dispatchers attempted to defuse the situation, according to DPS.
An officer in a patrol car and another officer on foot were seen following Becerra and repeatedly ordering him to drop the knife in the DPS dashboard camera footage of the encounter, which the department made public. As Becerra approaches the footed officer brandishing the knife, the officer is seen moving away and uttering the words, “I’m gonna shoot you… if you don’t stop stop right there.”
As Becerra kept moving forward, the officer fired twice from a distance of roughly 20 feet. At a hospital, Becerra, who had no criminal history, was declared dead.
Attorneys for the Becerra family filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Sunnyvale DPS on Tuesday in connection with the shooting death. According to the complaint, Becerra never charged at anyone or threatened anyone with the knife, including the responding officers.
“The policeman was carrying a Taser. He was wearing pepper spray. In a prepared statement, lawyer Adant Pointer stated, “He had a baton.” “He never attempted to deescalate the situation, or to use non-lethal force, or to use any other method that might have avoided this needless loss of a young man’s life.”
The City of Sunnyvale, Public Safety Officer Kevin Lemos, and others are named in the case, which Becerra’s parents filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, for wrongful death, excessive force, carelessness, battery, and loss of family relationship.
“Emmanuel still had his entire life to live. In a prepared statement, lawyer Michael Slater stated, “What happened to Emmanuel highlights why law enforcement should never provoke and escalate a situation with someone experiencing a mental health crisis, then immediately use deadly force as a first resort.” “Instead of receiving the help he was literally calling out for, Emmanuel was met with lethal violence by those from whom he was asking for help and protection.”
Following the shooting, the two cops were put on regular leave. The shooting was being looked into by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Sunnyvale DPS said to CBS News Bay Area on Wednesday that the agency would normally not comment on any ongoing litigation and that the city had not yet received any indication that a lawsuit had been filed.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.