Golden State Today

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a report concerning the officer-involved shooting of Marcos Maldonado in Los Angeles on July 27, 2022. The incident involved officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). This report is part of the DOJ's efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The investigation concluded that criminal charges were not warranted.

Attorney General Rob Bonta commented on the matter, stating, “The loss of life is always heartbreaking. We recognize the considerable challenges and difficulties faced by all those impacted, including Mr. Maldonado’s family, the law enforcement agencies involved, and the community at large. The California Department of Justice is dedicated to collaborating with all law enforcement entities to maintain a legal system that is fair, transparent, and accountable to every Californian.”

On the day of the incident, LAPD officers responded to reports of a man with a gun walking down the street. Upon locating Marcos Maldonado, who appeared to be armed, officers instructed him to drop his weapon. When he pointed it at them instead, they fired their weapons, resulting in his death. It was later discovered that Maldonado's gun was a replica airsoft handgun.

Under Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), which mandates DOJ investigations into officer-involved shootings leading to unarmed civilian deaths in California, this case was thoroughly examined. The DOJ found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted without intent to defend themselves or others from perceived imminent risk. Consequently, no criminal prosecution will proceed against them.

The DOJ's investigation also yielded several policy recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. These include improvements in officer communication regarding significant contextual information impacting use-of-force decisions; evaluations of perimeter control policies due to bystander presence during such incidents; and updates to LAPD's use-of-force policy according to Government Code section 7286 requirements.

A full copy of the report is available for public access.