A California teenager who was apparently kidnapped by her father in September 2022 was shot and killed by a police officer while following his orders, according to a newly released video, as authorities previously claimed. He did not appear to be wearing any tactical equipment.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office said at the time that Savannah Graziano, 15, was accused of killing her estranged wife and Savannah's mother on September 26, 2022. announced that he had been kidnapped by (45).
An Amber Alert issued for Savannah after the murders described the father as an “armed and dangerous” suspect. When cops spot his truck, a car chase and gunfight ensues, resulting in the deaths of Savannah and her father.
After the shooting, Sheriff Shannon Dicus said a person believed to be Savannah got out of the passenger seat of the car wearing tactical gear and that evidence suggested she was the “culprit.” Ta.participant They fired at our legislators. ”
However, newly released video of the incident does not show the girl wearing tactical gear, and shows that she was following instructions to approach the officers.
The video, released by the sheriff's department to Southern California News Group on Friday in response to a California Public Records Act request, shows Savannah crouching low and slowly approaching the deputy before the officer shoots him. It shows how it was received.
Attempts to reach multiple members of the Graziano family for comment on the new video were unsuccessful Tuesday.
shooting
A 911 caller reported seeing Anthony John Graziano's pickup truck near Highway 395 and Highway 58. Around Barstow on the morning of Sept. 27, 2022, the sheriff's office said at the time.
Officers located the pickup truck and pursued it for approximately 45 miles on the highway. Throughout the chase, someone in the vehicle “constantly shot back at the deputies” from the rear window, disabling a second squad car by firing bullets into the squad car's windshield, Dikas said.
The pickup truck became disabled on the shoulder of a highway in Hesperia, and a gunfight began. A passenger then saw Savannah get out of the car.
Dicas said the girl was wearing tactical gear at the time of the incident when she got out of the passenger side of the truck and ran toward the sheriff's deputies, falling to the ground under gunfire. Deputies initially didn't notice Savannah running toward them because she was wearing a helmet and military-style vest, he said.
New video taken from aerial footage shows a white pickup truck backing up before driving onto the shoulder of the road.
A voice from the helicopter overhead was heard saying, “A young woman has come out,'' and a person got out from the passenger side of the vehicle. She's out on the passenger side. Is anyone else interested in the vehicle? ”
Although the video was shot from a distance, Savannah did not appear to be wearing a vest or tactical gear.
The video showed Savannah taking several steps toward the police car, then crouching down and stopping. Several police officers with guns could be seen next to the police car.
After a few seconds, Savannah got up and took a few more steps, but her body is blurred in the video, which shows the moment she was most likely shot. A voice then said, “Oh, no,” and more officers rushed towards the nearest police car.
The sheriff's office also released a belt recording of the deputy closest to Savannah getting out of his truck. He was heard repeatedly yelling, “Passengers, please get out!” Passengers, please disembark! ” and “Come here! Come here! Come to me; come to me!”
“Stop! Stop shooting her! He's in the car!” the deputy yelled. “She's okay! He's in the car. Stop!”
According to the audio, Savannah appeared to be following the deputy's commands to come to her when she was shot.
Deputies provided immediate medical attention and Savannah was taken to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Her father was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Both Graziano and Savannah were struck by secondary bullets and died from their injuries,” the introduction to one of the videos said, according to the Riverside newspaper The Press-Enterprise, which obtained the videos.
The California Department of Justice has taken over the investigation into the shooting.
The sheriff's office had no comment on the case Tuesday, citing the Justice Department investigation. When asked for comment, the state attorney general's office referred to its initial statement on the incident.