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HomeMy WebLinkAboutInt Sgt R Shin by Fulcher S.A. 15-005 Investigator: DEAN FULCHER Approved By: Date of Report:03/12/2015 Date: 03/30/2015 Page 1 of 4 CASE NAME: OSORIO, BENITO CLASSIFICATION: OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING (FATAL) INTERVIEW OF: RICHARD SHIN, POLICE SERGEANT SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESENT: MATT MCLEOD, DETECTIVE SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT DATE AND TIME: MARCH 11, 2015 1848 - 1937 HOURS LOCATION: SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT On the listed date and time, I conducted an audio digitally recorded interview of Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) Sergeant RICHARD SHIN in reference to the officer involved shooting investigation of BENITO OSORIO. SHIN provided his statement freely and voluntarily. The following is a summary of the interview: SHIN has been a Santa Ana Police Officer for approximately nineteen years, and is currently assigned as a field operations patrol sergeant, working Shift 1, from 0530 to 1800 hours. His normal work days are Thursday through Saturday, and the second Wednesday of each month. SHIN was on duty on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, and was wearing a Santa Ana Police Department issued navy blue uniform with Santa Ana Police Department patches on both shirt sleeves, a Santa Ana Police Officer badge above his left breast pocket, and a name tag above his right breast pocket. He was driving SAPD vehicle #827 and assigned radio call sign 150. At approximately 1250 hours, SHIN was in the area of MacArthur Boulevard and the 55 Freeway, in Santa Ana, when heard a radio call of an assault with a deadly weapon (shooting) that ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION INTERVIEW REPORT S.A. 15-005 Investigator: DEAN FULCHER Approved By: Date of Report:03/12/2015 Date: 03/30/2015 Page 2 of 4 had just occurred in the area of 800 South Cypress Street. SHIN responded to the area and received additional information, via the police radio, while he was enroute to the location. An update was broadcast that the suspect involved in the shooting was driving a white pick-up truck. SHIN heard SAPD Officer JIM BERWANGER advise that he was in the area that shooting had occurred and had possibly located the vehicle. Shortly after, SHIN heard officers advise that the vehicle was stopped in the area of Main and Pine Streets and were requesting additional officers for traffic control. As SHIN neared the scene, he heard radio transmissions from officers, who were conducting a felony car stop on the pick-up truck, advising that the suspect had a gun and had placed the gun to his chin. SHIN surmised the suspect, later identified as BENITO OSORIO, was possibly contemplating suicide. Just prior to arriving on the scene SHIN heard a radio broadcast that a shot had been fired from inside the white pick-up truck. SHIN arrived at the scene of the felony car stop and parked his vehicle approximately two to three car lengths behind other SAPD vehicles, in the northbound lanes of Main Street. SHIN’s vehicle was parked facing north, behind several other SAPD vehicles. SHIN observed several SAPD officers, behind their car doors, with their guns drawn and pointed at the white pick-up. SHIN estimated that the row of SAPD vehicles and the white pick-up were separated by approximately thirty feet. SHIN observed as several SAPD officers attempted to engage OSORIO in conversation telling him, “Don’t do it,” and “Keep your hands up.” SHIN could see the silhouette of a person’s head, through the tinted windows, sitting in the driver’s seat of the truck. OSORIO’s head was pivoting and moving inside of the truck. SHIN took upon the role of field supervisor and held a position, approximately three to six feet behind the line officers, acting as a facilitator for any additional resources needed to resolve the incident. S.A. 15-005 Investigator: DEAN FULCHER Approved By: Date of Report:03/12/2015 Date: 03/30/2015 Page 3 of 4 SHIN heard several officers discussing whether it was safe to approach the vehicle and render medical aid to the driver, as it became apparent he had shot himself. Officers were sharing information with one another as to what they could, and could not see, from their respective vantage points. A small group of officers ultimately advanced toward the car to render but aid; but prior to reaching the door were warned by other officers that OSORIO was still moving and possibly watching their actions. The officers retreated without having reached OSORIO. SHIN had maintained a position of approximately three to six feet behind the line of officers conducting the car stop. He instructed the offices who were attempting to engage OSORIO in conversation, to continue to attempt to get him to exit the vehicle with his hands up. Approximately three to five minutes after SHIN’s arrival, the driver’s side door of the pick-up opened and OSORIO slowly began to exit the vehicle. OSORIO had blood on his face and hands and appeared to be disoriented and in pain. There was blood on OSORIO’s face and hands. SHIN did not hear OSORIO make any sounds or say anything after exiting the vehicle. SHIN relayed to the officers that OSORIO was coming out of the vehicle. OSORIO turned and faced south, facing the officers, while the officers continued to command him to turn around and put his hands up. SHIN could see OSORIO was holding a silver semi-automatic handgun in his right hand, pointing it in an east/southeast direction, slightly downward, but toward the officers. OSORIO made eye contact with the officers, and for approximately three to four seconds; SHINN heard the officers ordering OSORIO to drop the gun. SHINN then heard the sound of approximately ten to twelve gunshots, fired in a short and controlled period of time of approximately two seconds. OSORIO then fell to the ground without making any statements. After the gunshots, several officers approached OSORIO and provided him with medical aid until paramedics arrived. SHIN heard a metallic sound as the officers approached, which he assumed was one of the officers kicking the gun away from OSORIO. S.A. 15-005 Investigator: DEAN FULCHER Approved By: Date of Report:03/12/2015 Date: 03/30/2015 Page 4 of 4 SHIN identified five SAPD officers who had discharged their firearms during the incident and obtained a public safety statement from each officer. The officers provided SHINN with the number of rounds they believed they had fired, the direction, and all believed their rounds to have struck OSORIO. The following officers were identified as having discharged their weapons: • NICOLE QUIJAS, Officer Fired three to four rounds, in a northerly direction • WILLIAM SWEET, Officer Fired two rounds in a northerly direction • DAVID GARCIA, Officer Fired one round in a northerly direction • DAVID ENRIQUEZ, Officer Fired four rounds in a northerly direction • RYAN SHIFFLET, Officer Fired four rounds in an easterly direction SHINN then made arrangements to keep the officers who had fired their weapons separate from each other and transported to the Santa Ana Police Department.