Photos: Always Film the Police (AFTP) Foundation\YouTube Screenshots
The San Bernardino, California sheriff released new body-camera footage of the fatal police shooting of 15-year-old Ryan Gainer, who was holding a gardening tool.
The Saturday killing of Ryan, who was autistic and having a mental health crisis, sparked national outrage and escalating criticisms, prompting the head of the department, Sheriff Shannon Dicus, to show reporters additional footage during a Wednesday press conference.
The sheriff also revealed that it appeared two deputies on the scene had fired three rounds at Ryan.
Dicus repeatedly defended the deputies’ use of lethal force, at one point referencing Ryan’s “large stature” – a comment that drew immediate backlash from local civil rights advocates.
Audio of 911 calls and partial clips first released on Monday indicated that a relative called police to report Ryan was breaking things in their house and had attacked his sister. At one point, the caller said Ryan had said he was “going to run away”.
The first 15-second video released showed one deputy arriving at the home in Apple Valley, east of Los Angeles, to find an open front door. A man inside could be heard saying, “He’s got a stick in his hand,” and soon after, Ryan appeared holding the gardening tool, identified as a 5ft hula hoe.
The deputy at the door shouted: “Get back … you’re going to get shot.”
The newly released footage captured the moment of the shooting as Ryan moved toward the deputy, although the deputy was running away from him and facing the other direction. The shooting was not visible on the video. When the deputy and his camera turned back to Ryan, he was lying on the ground.
Footage from another deputy, who was the second to arrive, captured that deputy shooting Ryan from a distance. Ryan appeared to be holding the tool over his head when he was shot by both deputies.
