A shocking video has been released showing Los Angeles police fatally shooting a bipolar man with a plastic fork.
Jason Maccani, 36, was shot Saturday in a Skid Row warehouse. Police were called to the scene after a report of a man threatening people with a ‘stick or pole’.
Authorities claimed the deceased “attacked” them, but video shows Maccani initially obeying the surrender order before dropping his hands and advancing on them.
This prompted police to fire bean bag rounds and rubber projectiles before rookie officer Caleb Garcia-Alamilla fired a fatal round into the victim’s chest.
“Are you telling me you thought it was a knife or a weapon that could seriously injure you?” Mike Maccani, Jason’s brother, raged at the LA times. “I would be more afraid of a closed fist than a white plastic fork.”
Shocking video shows LAPD officers fatally shooting bipolar man they mistakenly believed was armed with a knife or screwdriver
Jason Maccani, 36, was shot Saturday in a Skid Row warehouse. Police said he came at them before firing at an officer who was firing bean bags, but the footage shows him initially being obedient
Maccani was only ‘armed’ at the time with a plastic fork, which was later submitted into evidence
Police later said the officer identified in the shooting is Garcia-Alamilla, a former Marine who graduated less than a year ago. The shooting is currently under investigation and police released the footage of the shooting on Tuesday.
Surveillance footage shows seven officers advancing through the hallway near the 600 block of Towne Avenue.
Maccani emerges from around a corner and slowly walks towards the officers, fork clutched between his fingers.
As he approached officers, who said they thought he was carrying a screwdriver or a knife, they began firing bullets from a beanbag gun.
Maccani then continues to swing toward them and makes contact with a beanbag gun held by a female officer.
As he reaches for the gun, another officer releases the fatal bullet from his gun and police wrestle Maccani to the ground.
Bodycam footage also shows Maccani initially complying with the officers by raising his hands in the air and walking backwards in the direction of their voices.
After a few steps, he drops his hands, prompting police to yell at him to stay quiet.
The confused-looking victim continues walking and a round beanbag glances away from him.
Maccani was supposed to meet his brother and sister for a ‘sibling day’ before he was fatally shot during the altercation with police
Former Marine and rookie Caleb Garcia-Alamilla was identified as the officer involved in the shooting
According to his brother, the victim had suffered a manic episode a few days before his death
Maccani initially raised his arms as instructed and began walking slowly toward the officers
A loud gunshot-like sound is heard and the Maccani lets out a scream before charging at the female officer. Another bang sounds and another officer manages to push him against a wall.
The officers then pile on him, wrestle him to the ground and handcuff him.
“Calm down guys, did someone shoot?” an officer asks as Maccani can be heard groaning on the ground.
“I did that,” another responds, before confirming that he was shot “fatally” in the arm.
Authorities are now investigating ‘whether the use of deadly force was consistent with LAPD policies and procedures,” a police statement said.
Maccani’s brother said he suffered a manic episode just days before his death. He calls for better police training to deal with mental health issues.
“He was never violent,” he said. “That’s something that really bothered me about this recent incident.”
Authorities released video of the fatal shooting, highlighting the fork the suspect was holding
LAPD is now investigating whether Garcia-Alamilla’s use of deadly force was consistent with its policies
Mike became concerned about his brother when he stopped responding to texts about their plans to hang out with their sister on Saturday for a “brothers’ day.”
On Monday, his worst fears were confirmed when he received a call from the LA County medical examiner’s office.
“I just collapsed when I got home in my partner’s arms and cried and cried,” he said.
Jason was described as an avid snowboarder who cared deeply for his maternal grandparents, whom he visited several times a week.