San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man during an attempt to arrest him on suspicion of weapons, robbery and assault charges in a shopping center parking lot in Riverside on Thursday, Jan. 22. (Photo by On Scene TV)
Statewide — The California Department of Justice is investigating an officer-involved shooting by San Bernardino County Sheriff’sdeputies that resulted in the death of one person in Riverside earlier last week, state officials announced last Thursday.
Attorney General Rob Bonta said the Department of Justice has opened an independent investigation into the shooting, which occurred around 10 a.m. on Jan. 22.
The incident involved deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office and is being reviewed pursuant to Assembly Bill(AB) 1506, a state law that requires the DOJ to investigate certain fatal officer-involved shootings.
The DOJ’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team initiated its investigation after being notified of the incident, according to the department.
The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether the use of force was justified under California law.
Once the investigation is complete, the case will be submitted to the DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for an independent review.
That review will determine whether any criminal charges are warranted.
State officials emphasized that the information released so far is preliminary and that the investigation remains ongoing.
Under AB 1506, which took effect in 2021, the California Department of Justice is required to independently investigate officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian, as well as cases involving the death of a civilian who may have been armed but in which there is potential criminal liability.
The law was enacted to increase transparency and public trust in investigations involving fatal uses of force by law enforcement.
The DOJ’s investigation is separate from any internal review that may be conducted by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office or other agencies.
The sheriff’s department has not released additional information about the incident as of last Thursday.
The DOJ is asking anyone with information related to the shooting to come forward.
Individuals who may have witnessed the incident or have relevant information are encouraged to contact the DOJ by calling (916) 210-2871.
The DOJ maintains a public webpage outlining its role and responsibilities under AB 1506, including summaries of past investigations and explanations of the review process.
That information is available through the California Attorney General’s Office.
The DOJ said it will release additional information as it becomes available and as the investigation progresses.
