On June 6, 2020, Erik Salgado and Brianna Colombo, two unarmed individuals, were involved in a shooting by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers in East Oakland. More than three years later, a $7 million settlement is due to be paid out to their families. This report is based on information provided by the San Francisco Chronicle.
According to accounts, Salgado and Colombo were in a stolen automobile, when an unmarked police vehicle responded to the situation. Salgado tried to escape, causing a skirmish during which officers opened fire. Salgado lost his life in the conflict, while Colombo sustained serious injuries from four gunshot wounds. No officers were harmed, refuting early reports of an officer being pinned under the vehicle.
John Burris and James Chanin, attorneys who represented the victims' families, condemned the incident, calling it a "massacre" and "one of the most outrageous officer-involved shooting cases" respectively. Violations were reported in the conduct of the CHP officers, including failure to cooperate with the Oakland Police Department. This revelation was made public by the San Francisco Chronicle.
With the settlement in progress, the call for more transparency from the CHP remains. The CHP has yet to disclose details about the shooting, and the names of the involved officers have been kept confidential by the state Attorney General's office. The family and community groups, including CURYJ, are urging District Attorney Pamela Price to re-evaluate the case for criminal charges.
The CHP has previously had to pay substantial settlements stemming from fatal shootings and the use of force by its officers. Recently, a $24 million settlement for a man, killed through police brutality during a traffic stop, was paid out by the CHP. According to The Oaklandside, this is believed to be the most substantial police brutality settlement in the state's history.
The majority of the settlement in Salgado and Colombo's case will go to to purchasing a home for their six-year-old daughter, who was not present at the time of the shooting. The title of the house will be transferred to her once she becomes 18. Other parts of the settlement will be invested in annuities and a bank account for her legal guardian, her grandfather, to manage for her catering to her future needs.
