A teenage girl who died when police tried to arrest her father was shot dead by the arresting officer, and audio and video of the incident have now been released.
As Blaze News previously reported, in September 2022, 45-year-old Anthony Graziano was arrested in California after allegedly killing his mother, Tracy Martinez, and then kidnapping her daughter, 15-year-old Savannah Graziano. An Amber Alert has been issued. The next day, Graziano’s car was spotted on Interstate 15, and a lengthy, high-speed police chase that immediately involved gunfire ensued.
Eventually, Graziano’s broken down truck came to rest along the shoulder of Interstate 15 in Hesperia, California, near Victorville. Graziano was behind the wheel and Savannah was in the passenger seat. Police surrounded the vehicle.
At that point, Savannah exited the vehicle and was reportedly wearing tactical gear, but did not appear to have a weapon. She then began walking toward the arresting officer. Suddenly, gunshots rang out again, fatally wounding Savannah and Graziano.
An initial report from San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicas said shots were fired from inside the suspect’s vehicle during the incident, with “several bullets” penetrating “the patrolman’s windshield.” Some suggested that at least one shot was fired from the passenger side of Graziano’s truck, suggesting that Savannah may have fired at police at some point, or that the officer fired at her in self-defense. There is widespread speculation that he may have done so.
Eighteen months after the incident, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department has released audio and video footage of the police shooting, showing that police shot and killed Savannah, although the circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation. be.
Video from a police helicopter shows an officer repeatedly saying over the radio that shots were fired as the truck stopped along the side of the road. According to the video, Savannah got out of her car, took a few steps toward the police vehicle, crouched on the ground, got up and took a few more steps, and at least one bullet hit her before she hit the ground again. collapsed. .
“Oh my god!” a police officer said, according to helicopter footage.
audio Video captured by a deputy on the ground provides further information about Savannah’s final moments. First, the deputy can be heard instructing the “passengers” inside the vehicle to “get out” and walk towards him.
“Come here! Come here! Come to me! Come to me!” he says. “Come, come, come, come! Walk, walk, walk, walk!”
But the unnamed deputy quickly changed his tone when fellow officers began firing at her. “Stop! Stop shooting her! He’s in her car! Stop!” he yells.
“She’s okay! She’s in the car! Stop!” he continues.
Unfortunately, Savannah was already mortally wounded. Life-saving measures were attempted at the scene and Savannah was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The sheriff’s office confirmed that Savannah and her father were killed by law enforcement gunfire.
The California Department of Justice and Sheriff’s Office are still investigating the incident, but the names of the deputies involved have not been released. authorities It maintained that these video and audio accounts are still considered “preliminary” and that the direction of the investigation is still subject to change.
But Savannah’s uncle, CJ Wyatt, believes his niece’s death was a preventable tragedy. “We need better training so unarmed people don’t get killed,” Wyatt said. guardian. “I hope this video can be used for training, but we need to do it in a different way.
“She didn’t have to die.”
Savannah Graziano: California Amber Alert teen killed in San Bernardino County gunfightyoutube.be
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