NORTH RICHMOND — A 45-year-old man carrying a replica firearm was fatally shot Wednesday after a traffic stop by San Pablo police officers, authorities said.
At 2:27 p.m., officers responded to Rumrill Boulevard and Market Avenue after an employee called to report seeing a man with a gun in the business’ parking lot.
“He was actually removing the magazine of the gun and putting it back in, and the clerk was in fear that the subject was going to come inside and be a danger,” San Pablo police Capt. Brian Bubar said Wednesday night.
Shortly before officers arrived, the man got into a red Toyota pickup truck and drove away, swerving around vehicles in traffic. Officers driving westbound along Market saw the truck and carried out a high-risk traffic stop at Truman Street in unincorporated North Richmond, Bubar said.
The driver talked with officers, who approached him and saw what looked like blood coming from one of his hands, before getting out. Still holding what looked like a black handgun in his right hand, the man began to mimic manipulating its slide before lifting the gun and holding it close to his chest and turning toward officers, Bubar said.
Four officers fired their weapons at the man, who fell to the ground. Officers began providing emergency life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead while paramedics were taking him to a hospital. He was identified as a 45-year-old San Pablo resident, but Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office coroner’s division staff were expected to handle further identification pending next-of-kin notification. There were no other reported injuries, Bubar said.
Investigators who responded to the scene soon found the man’s handgun was an Airsoft-style replica. All four officers were placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation into the shooting. The officers’ names and lengths of service were not available Wednesday night.
San Pablo police will investigate the shooting in coordination with the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, and the state Department of Justice will carry out a separate investigation, in accordance with Assembly Bill 1506.
Anyone with information may call San Pablo police’s investigations unit at 510-215-3150.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
Source: www.mercurynews.com