A tense Oakland police standoff ended in a hail of gunfire when two officers shot and killed a 43-year-old man authorities said was armed with a pair of makeshift spears.
The Oakland Police Department released bodycam footage Wednesday showing the July 13 confrontation involving Jose Angel Castillo near a homeless encampment at 40th Avenue and International Boulevard.
Police repeatedly ordered Castillo to drop the weapons. He refused, walking away from the officers while insisting he “was doing nothing.”
The cops kept after him as he headed into a parking lot, continuing to bark commands.
Then Castillo turned around.
Several officers used their Tasers, but Castillo still did not surrender.
Castillo appeared to grab on of the officer’s weapons and move toward them before two cops opened fire, sending Castillo to the ground. He died at the scene.
The two officers who fired their weapons were placed on administrative leave, as required by department policy.
The shooting has raised questions from civil rights attorney Jim Chanin, who monitors the Oakland Police Department.
“Did it justify deadly force? There are lots of people who are threats, the question is, does it – what kind of force is justified?” he asked KUTV.
The Department has had two fatal shootings out of three total incidents this year, compared to one fatal shooting by this date last year.
