A tragic altercation in Fullerton ended in the death of a 19-year-old man following a police shooting late Saturday. The Fullerton Police Department reports that officers were dispatched to the 700 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue after receiving a 911 call at approximately 11:51 p.m. The call indicated that a young man had brandished a knife at his father, according to a CBS News Los Angeles report.
Upon arrival, police engaged the man who matched the suspect's description on a sidewalk. Despite their repeated commands, he did not comply with the officers’ instructions. The encounter escalated when the individual lifted his shirt and drew what looked like a handgun from his waistband, as noted in KTLA's coverage of the press release. This action prompted the officers to discharge their weapons.
The suspect, later identified as Pedro Garcia by family members, was pronounced dead at the scene. Life-saving efforts were attempted by the officers until paramedics arrived but were ultimately unsuccessful. The purported firearm was identified as a pellet gun resembling a Smith & Wesson handgun, found in close proximity to Garcia. The Fullerton Police Department confirmed that no other individuals or officers were injured during the incident.
Garcia's mother, Gabriela Ordonez Campos, claimed in an interview with NBC Los Angeles that the family had already disarmed Garcia, and she had informed the police that he was unarmed, allegedly asserting, "They did not hear me. How is it that the police did not hear me even when I was 10 feet away I told them in both English and Spanish and they did not care. They shot him."
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The Fullerton Police Department urges anyone with further details to come forward and contact Detective N. Valdes at (714) 738-6754. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227. Consistent with state law, all materials relevant to the incident, including videos and audio recordings, will be released within 45 days.
