A suspect got a hold of an officer’s gun during an altercation with multiple sheriff’s deputies in a California Walmart resulting in the suspect being shot in the head, according to Orange County Sheriff’s body camera video released on March 2nd. From early indications, it appears that this was likely a clean shoot.
Why Did Police Shoot The Suspect?
Ernest Aguilar, 30 of Santa Ana, actually managed to survive the Jan. 19 shooting and is amazingly recovering in jail, Sgt. Todd Hylton told the Orange County Register, adding there were no further injuries.
Aguilar has been charged with several counts of assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer as well as various other felonies related to the occurrence in Foothill Ranch, an area of Lake Forest, the paper stated.
Aguilar was just one of three people trying to utilize a fake receipt to leave the Walmart with premium electronics or fraudulently return the merchandise for cash, law enforcement officials stated, according to the Register.
Reacting deputies approached Aguilar as well as a female he was with as they stood in a checkout line with large items, the paper said.
Deputies told Aguilar they wouldn’t apprehend him or the lady; instead, he claimed they were to be detained and were to exit with the deputies who would get their info for a trespassing report after which both would be banned from coming back the store.
As deputies accompanied Aguilar out, one of them started to lecture the suspect: “You’re like 40 years old, and also you’re still stealing, dude? Get a job. Let’s go.”
When another deputy saw Aguilar had a blade hanging off his pants, the deputy speaking with Aguilar became alarmed when the suspect reached for a knife: “Get your f***ing hand off the knife! Get the f*** out of the store!” Audio seemed to indicate the officer pulled the blade from its sheath.
“How stupid are you?” another deputy asked Aguilar.
‘He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun! Shoot him! Shoot him!’
While Aguilar was trying to free himself from the deputies, the video clip reveals him reaching to his right pant leg for another weapon.
“He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun! Shoot him! Shoot him!” one deputy can be heard yelling.
A Little Additional Info
Aguilar stayed in custody Tuesday on bond exceeding $2.2 million, the Register said, per inmate records. He’s been charged with three matters of assault on a policeman using a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a gun by a convicted felon, ownership of ammunition by a convicted felon, owning of a gun missing out on a serial number, and also 2 counts of identity theft, the paper said.
In 2017, he pleaded guilty to counterfeiting and also driving with a suspended license, the Register likewise reported, utilizing court records, including that Aguilar was a defendant in eight additional open felony cases involving accusations of break-in and entering, roberry, assault, criminal threat, resisting arrest, possession of a dangerous drug, and various other offenses.
The paper claimed the public defender appointed to stand for Aguilar did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
The lady with Aguilar as well as one more man who was waiting outside the store for them got away the location in a minivan, authorities told the Register, adding that they soon were detained some 20 miles away in Midway City. It was not quickly clear if they will also face charges linked with the Walmart incident, the paper said.
