Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released a report regarding the officer-involved shooting of Curtis Barnett, which took place in Salinas, California, on July 13, 2022. The investigation was conducted by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) under Assembly Bill 1506, requiring scrutiny of incidents involving unarmed civilian deaths caused by law enforcement officers.

Attorney General Bonta expressed his condolences over the incident: “The tragic loss of life in this incident profoundly affects the entire state of California.” He emphasized the challenges faced by Mr. Barnett’s family, law enforcement agencies, and the community. Bonta reiterated DOJ's commitment to a transparent and accountable legal system for all Californians.

The events leading to Barnett's death began with a police response to a stabbing report in Salinas. Officers were informed en route that the suspect might have a firearm. Upon arrival, they encountered Curtis Barnett, who appeared with what looked like a Tommy submachine gun and a sword. Despite repeated commands from officers to disarm, Barnett advanced towards them while shouting expletives. Officers fired upon him, later discovering his gun was an airsoft replica.

The DOJ concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that officers acted without intent to defend themselves or others from perceived imminent harm. Consequently, no criminal charges will be filed against the involved officers.

In addition to its findings, the DOJ made several policy recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. It suggested revisions to body-worn camera policies within the Salinas Police Department (SPD), advocating for mandatory activation during critical incidents rather than discretionary use. Furthermore, it recommended reviewing communication protocols between officers concerning transitions from non-lethal to lethal responses during rapidly evolving situations.