‘We don’t know that’s a fake gun’: The moment police shoot dead suspect pointing Airsoft rifle at them after repeatedly demanding he drop weapon
- Gabriel Strickland, 25, was shot dead on New Year’s Day in Nevada County, CA
- Officers repeatedly asked him to drop what they thought was a shotgun
- Strickland told them it was an airsoft gun but the officers replied: ‘We don’t know that’s a fake gun … you could have painted that’
- Attempts were made to taser the suspect before police fired around 10 rounds
- WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT:
Video footage has emerged showing the moment officers shot dead a suspect holding an airsoft rifle after repeatedly demanding that he drop the weapon.
Body and dashcam footage released Thursday shows officers shooting Gabriel Strickland, 25, on New Year’s Day in Nevada County, California.
Officers responded to a 911 call that Strickland was walking around with a firearm at 10000 block of Walker Drive at around noon.
After Strickland told them he was holding an airsoft gun, one replied: ‘We don’t know that’s a fake gun … you could have painted that.’
A few minutes pass before they started moving toward the suspect with their rifles and handguns drawn. Although Strickland dropped to his knees he continued pointing the weapon – which they believed to be a shotgun – at the deputies
‘You don’t understand that I really don’t give a f—,’ Strickland told them at one point.
A few minutes passed before they started moving toward the suspect with their rifles and handguns drawn. Although Strickland dropped to his knees, he continued pointing the weapon at them. The deputies believed it to be a shotgun.
They got within yards of the suspect and attempted to subdue him with a taser but missed twice. Shortly after, they opened fire and around 10 rounds were let off.
Just as they opened fire, one of the officers appeared to have disarmed Strickland with a metal baton but quickly leapt back from the firing line.
Strickland went limp and was rapidly surrounded by the officers.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon said the deputies tried to save his life at the scene but he was taken to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead, the Sacramento Bee reported.
The officers approach the suspect, some are holding long firearms, others with handguns
Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon said the deputies tried to save his life at the scene but he was taken to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead
Nevada County Assistant District Attorney Chris Walsh said the air rifle’s orange tip appeared to have been broken off the barrel and made it appear more like a real firearm.
Strickland was also known to law enforcement and had made previous ‘suicide by cop’ statements.
Investigations are ongoing as to whether the incident was handled appropriately by the officers and deputies.