Footage from a body camera released by the Chino Police Department on Friday shows the events leading up to a police shooting that left a man dead in early July. An officer shot Li Xi Wang, 49, of Fontana on July 3 while searching a house in the 6800 block of Rockrose Street. Wang was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries.
The footage showed police officers instructing people in the building that they had a search warrant and were going to enter the house to conduct a search. After announcing themselves multiple times, officers entered the house and immediately encountered a 53-year-old woman, who they handcuffed.
Chino police Sgt. Nancy Franklin said officers were at the residence in response to it being used to grow drugs.
As the footage shows, police announce themselves multiple times as a 53-year-old woman, later identified as Ai Yue Cai, walks out. When they ask the woman if anyone else is in the home, the woman shakes her head as if she doesn’t understand them.
As officers clear the home, going from room to room, they eventually come upon Wang, who is hiding behind the door. The cops says, “Let me see your hands dude,” and instantly fires off a round, shooting Wang in the head, killing him.
The officer’s shot was so fast that it appeared to even scare him. “Oh sh*t! F**k!” the still unnamed officer screams out after essentially murdering an unarmed man for hiding behind a door.
While searching the house, an officer saw Wang hiding behind a door. Body camera footage showed an officer shot Wang while instructing him to put his hands up. Wang appeared to make no movements toward the officer. The end of the body camera footage showed Wang slumped on the ground after being shot.
Franklin said Cai was arrested on suspicion of growing marijuana and grand theft. She said that investigators determined that Wang and Cai operated another grow house in Fontana.
A total of 1,500 marijuana plants and $35,000 were seized by police, according to officials. Evidence of grand theft totaling more than $105,000 was also seized.
No weapons were found in the house, Franklin said.
This body camera footage was released just days after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill setting tougher legal standards for deadly use-of-force by police officers and sheriff’s deputies throughout California.
The officer was placed on administrative leave for three days, and was allowed to return to duty afterwards, Franklin said.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in investigating the shooting, and will submit its findings to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for review after its investigation concludes.
