#2023-08-06

Pima County Sheriff’s Department released new body camera video of a shooting involving an officer back in August 2023. Deputies responded to a home near Roger and Flowing Wells for reports of a burglary. The alleged burglar is the victim’s ex-boyfriend. He was holding a knife in his hand when he was asked to drop the knife, he refused and walked towards deputies. That’s when a deputy shot and killed the him. What we see in the body camera video released by Pima County Sheriff’s Department is a man with a knife walking towards deputies before he was shot and killed. “Drop the knife now.” “Drop the knife now, don’t come any closer.” On August 6, the sheriff’s department says deputies responded to a burglary on the 4100 block of North Reno Avenue. News 4 Tucson is told by the Sheriff’s Department that the victim’s ex-boyfriend had forced his way into her home. She was able to escape, but she told deputies that her niece was still inside of the home. In the video, deputies are heard asking the suspect identified as, 33-year-old Reinaldo Morales to leave the trailer. “Rey, come out of the house with your hands up.” When Morales didn’t come out, deputies are seen entering the home trying to find the victim’s niece. Nats: deputies walking around the home Track: moments later deputies find Morales laying in a bed with what appears to be a knife in his hand. One deputy in the video, commands Morales to drop the knife both in English and Spanish several times, Morales refused, and is seen walking towards the deputy with the knife in his hand, then we then hear 5 gun shots. Morales was shot to death. A separate investigation is being conducted to determine whether or not the deputy in the video broke any policies for the way he responded.

A suspect who allegedly shot at officers was wounded when they fired back - and then taken into custody in the Pico-Union district on Sunday, police say.

No officers or witnesses were injured, but the suspect was struck and sustained injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, the LAPD says.

The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. in the area of West Pico Boulevard and Kenmore.

LAPD officials say two officers were driving down Pico in a department vehicle when someone opened fire at them. Bullets struck the windshield of the SUV but the officers were not injured.

La Mesa, California — On Sunday, August 6, 2023, two La Mesa Police Officers contacted a suspect who had an active felony warrant for burglary in the parking lot of a condominium complex at 8000 University Avenue. Officers had confirmed the status of the subject’s felony warrant and obtained a photograph of the suspect prior to contacting him. At approximately 4:13 p.m., the officers saw the suspect standing outside of the passenger side of a vehicle parked in the lot. When officers contacted the suspect, he took out a handgun and pointed it directly at an officer who was standing in front of the vehicle. It appears the suspect tried to fire at the officer multiple times but the firearm malfunctioned.

In response, one officer discharged his firearm multiple times at the suspect as he ran through the parking lot. As the suspect continued to run towards University Avenue, it appeared the suspect was trying to manipulate or clear the firearm of the malfunction. The officer discharged his firearm, striking the suspect in the upper body multiple times. This incapacitated the suspect and caused him to drop the firearm. Officers rendered first aid and called for paramedics but the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later. The preliminary investigation into this incident indicates a passing vehicle was struck by a round but the motorist in that vehicle was not struck. There was also at least one round that struck a building within the lot. No officers or other persons were injured during this incident.

The suspect in this incident has been identified as Jason Hampton of La Mesa. He is described as a 41-year-old white male. The officer involved in the shooting has been identified as Brian Heller. He has been employed by the La Mesa Police Department for approximately six years. He is currently assigned as a Master Patrol Officer in La Mesa and has been placed on paid leave per the La Mesa Police Department’s standard protocol following an officer-involved shooting incident. The second officer present did not fire his weapon during this incident. Per the Countywide Memorandum of Understanding, the San Diego Police Homicide Unit was called to the scene to conduct the officer-involved-shooting investigation. Detectives are continuing to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. A loaded 9mm handgun was recovered at the scene.