Hayward PD Critical Incident Video Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Officer Cassondra Fovel

(510) 293-7064

Hayward PD Critical Incident Video Release

HAYWARD, Calif., Dec. 8, 2022 – Today, the Hayward Police Department released police officer body-worn camera video, security camera video, and other information relevant to the Oct. 24 officer-involved shooting that occurred on Eden Canyon Road, north of Highway 580.

Initially, the body-worn camera footage and other video was withheld to preserve the integrity of the investigation and in the interest of justice for all involved parties. While the investigation is ongoing, we are releasing this information now because we want to be as open with the community as possible, especially after we have a critical incident.

We are not releasing the identity of the involved officers at this time, as we have been made aware of threats to the officer’s safety as a result of this incident.

On Oct. 24, at about 9:56 a.m., officers were dispatched to a disturbance near the 21000 block of Gary Drive. Witnesses called to report that a man went to his ex-girlfriend’s house, armed with a gun. The man went inside the home and got into an argument with his ex-girlfriend’s mother before witnesses said they were able to lock him out and call 9-1-1.

As officers responded, witnesses reported that the man fired numerous rounds from a handgun and was leaving the scene in a gray Mercedes sedan. Officers located the Mercedes as it fled eastbound on Grove Avenue. Officers attempted to perform a traffic stop, but the man failed to pull over.

A pursuit was initiated as the man continued to flee through unincorporated Hayward and onto eastbound Highway 580. During the pursuit, the man showed pursuing officers the gun and, at one point, he reached speeds over 85 miles an hour before he exited the freeway and continued northbound Eden Canyon Road.

In an attempt to end the pursuit, officers initiated a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) to disable the Mercedes. Officers forced the car onto an embankment just north of Highway 580 on Eden Canyon Road. As officers attempted to block the Mercedes so the man could not drive away, an officer’s leg was pinned between the Mercedes and a patrol vehicle.

The man then got out of the disabled car and ran northbound on Eden Canyon Road, with a gun in his hand. Officers chased after the man and gave him numerous commands, trying to get him to stop and drop the gun.

As he continued to run, a woman traveling southbound on Eden Canyon Road was stopped by the man. Officers saw him point a gun at the driver and try to open her car door. Officers intervened, and this is when the officer-involved shooting took place.

The man was then taken into custody and received medical treatment at the scene. He was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The man’s identity is known but is being withheld at this time. A record check revealed the man had no criminal history prior to the date of this incident.

Thankfully, the woman inside the car was not injured during the incident.  A loaded handgun was recovered at the scene.

Two officers, including the one pinned between the cars, received medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at local hospitals.

Anytime Hayward Police Officers use force, regardless of degree, it is a serious matter that requires a thorough investigation. Multiple law enforcement agencies are still in the process of conducting investigations and our understanding of this incident may change as additional evidence is collected, analyzed, and reviewed.  We also do not draw any conclusions about whether the officers acted consistent with our policies and the law until all the facts are known and the investigation is complete. 

Because this officer-involved shooting occurred in the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, they are the lead investigating agency for this incident. Their report number is 22-016966.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is also conducting a criminal investigation into the actions of the involved officers.

Per the City of Hayward’s policy, an independent third-party consulting firm and their use of force subject matter experts are conducting an administrative investigation to determine whether the involved officers complied with Hayward Police Department policy. This incident will also be referred to the California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General, for review.

We want to thank the community for their patience and support as this incident continues to be investigated.

The Hayward Police Department case number is 2022-61014.