A Brentwood police officer shot and killed a man in his 40s late Wednesday after a suspected DUI stop near Balfour Road and Foothill Drive turned violent when officers say they found a rifle in his vehicle. According to police, the driver fought efforts to arrest him and grabbed for the weapon before an officer opened fire. Officers attempted lifesaving measures, but the man died at the scene. No officers were reported seriously injured, and authorities are withholding his name until relatives are notified.
The Brentwood Police Department said officers pulled the man over around 10:55 PM Wednesday on suspicion of driving under the influence and that he was the sole occupant of the vehicle, according to ABC7 Bay Area. The stop took place near the intersection of Balfour Road and Foothill Drive.
Investigators were told officers believed they had probable cause to search the car, where they say they discovered a loaded, high-powered rifle. When they tried to arrest the driver, police say he "physically resisted arrest, refused to follow verbal commands, and ultimately grabbed the high-powered rifle," prompting one officer to fire, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The outlet reports the officer hit the man an unknown number of times.
Several officers then provided emergency medical aid until paramedics arrived, but the man died at the scene from gunshot wounds and no officers were reported to have serious injuries, NBC Bay Area reports. Officials say his name is being withheld until his family can be notified.
Investigations Underway
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office has opened a parallel investigation under the county's Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident protocol, and Brentwood police say body-worn and in-car camera footage from the stop will be released "in accordance with the law," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The DA's review runs alongside the department's own internal inquiry.
Local Context
The shooting comes as Brentwood police already face scrutiny over an October incident in which a 72-year-old woman died a week after being detained by officers, a case that spurred questions from residents and local elected officials, the San Francisco Chronicle notes. That earlier case has some community members watching closely to see how the latest investigations unfold.
Brentwood police are asking anyone with information about Wednesday's shooting to call the department tip line at (925) 809-7911. Callers may remain anonymous, local outlets say, and officials are not releasing additional details while the investigation continues, according to ContraCosta News. After its independent review, the District Attorney's Office will decide whether the officer's use of force warrants criminal charges.
