KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) released security and body camera, and audio footage of the deputy-involved shooting at the Valencia Town Center involving Christopher Mercurio in January.
WARNING: The following contains scenes viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
The “Critical Incident Briefing” released by LASD provides a timeline of the events that occurred. 911 received a report of a “transient” man trespassing on a business at Valencia Town Center.
“Like, he, basically wants to start a fight whenever we go up to him…” the Caller is heard saying on the 911 audio.
A female deputy, refered to in the LASD video as Deputy #1, arrived at the location alone. Security camera footage shows Mercurio standing and approaching the deputy. When Mercurio is informed by Deputy #1 why she is responding, he objects to leaving and threatens her.
“I will actually kill any f***er that comes here,” Mercurio can be heard saying on the deputy’s body camera.
Efforts to de-escalate the situation by Deputy #1 appeared to frustrate Mercurio and he continued to threaten the deputy.
“I’m gonna f**k your a** up b***h,” Mercurio said while walking towards the deputy.
Mercurio then throws punches at the deputy’s face and head, shown in the body camera and security camera footage.
The deputy radios that she was in a fight and draws her gun.“If you come any closer, I’m gonna shoot you, I’m gonna shoot you,” Deputy #1 repeatedly warns Mercurio in the video.
Mercurio continued to ignore the deputy’s warnings while continuing to walk towards her. The deputy repeats her warning four more times. Mercurio continued to advance towards the deputy.
“Shoot,” Mercurio said.
It was at this moment Deputy #1 fires her gun striking Mercurio.
“Get off me! Stop! Stop!” Deputy #1 yells out in the video.
Mercurio continues to advance. It’s at this point the deputy fires a second round, striking Mercurio again.
“Stop! Stop moving or I’m gonna continue to shoot you. Stop,” said Deputy #1.
Mercurio turns around and walks back to where he had originally been sitting. He then slowly collapses.
A second deputy, referred to as Deputy #2 in the LASD video, responded to the shots fired call. Deputy #2 is shown then putting on gloves and administerd first aid until Los Angeles County Fire Department Paramedics assumes aid on Mercurio.
Mercurio was later transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Deputy #1 was also transported to the hospital for her injuries.
The California Department of Justice division of law enforcement has reviewed the incident and assumed control of the investigation “pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506.”
At the time, the incident marked the second deputy-involved shooting in or near the Santa Clarita Valley that week. A couple of days before, a man with a knife was shot and killed by deputies in Bouquet Canyon after he was discovered on a dirt road near where the body of a woman he had a “dating relationship” had been discovered with stab wounds.
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Doesn’t look like the deputy had any other choice. Kill or be killed. It’s a shame, but she didn’t have any choice.
It appeared that the deputy never had control of the situation which turned into a altercation. It seems like a taser would have done the same thing without killing the man. Maybe two deputies should have been there rather than the one.
I was thinking the same thing, Mike. The officer did what she had to do, given the situation. But the situation didn’t have to go down like that.
Wow, thanks for posting we need to be informed. The last paragraph talks about another shooting. And recently over in Newhall was a IMO targeted drive by I believe.
I went to Saugus High School with Chris; we played football together and walked home together sometimes. He was a really good looking kid and had a smile that I was jealous of. He was smart and very personable. I remember there were some issues with stability in the home. I was sad when he moved away and I never saw him again. Clearly he dealt with some issues that he didn’t get enough support with. KHTS ran a story about him being arrested a couple of years ago. I hate that his story ended so soon, and in such a violent way.
I am grateful to the deputy for her service and I am sure that this incident has weighed on her too; it’s never easy for cops to deploy lethal force and it takes a toll on them. I wish she would have had the availability of less than lethal force. Chris was in the wrong. He had no right to attack her. But my friend didn’t need to die.
I remember you well, Chris. I pray that you are free now. Rest in peace, my brother.
I think the deputy, although in the clear legally (and I will not shed a tear for the victim of suicide by cop), procedurally, she could have backed away and waited for backup. By confronting the suspect alone, she drove this to action. She should not have. There was no urgent need, and the decedent was obviously out of his mind.
The decedent’s own actions determined his fate. Any responding officer would suffice. But de-escalation, taser, pepper spray, bean bags, would take a coordinated team action. Then they could subdue and restrain him for the 72 hour 5150 hold. Then the cycle would repeat.
A shame she didn’t use a taser first on the vagrant.