Video shows deadly confrontation between deputies, suspect in Lancaster
LANCASTER, Calif. (KABC) -- Questions are mounting over a deadly confrontation between sheriff's deputies and a robbery suspect in Lancaster that was caught on video.
The incident unfolded Saturday on Meadowview Circle, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Deputies were trying to restrain the armed robbery suspect when he allegedly produced a gun, but it remains unclear what exactly happened.
Video shows at least two deputies on top of him while trying to arrest him.
Authorities claim the suspect had a ghost gun in his possession during the scuffle and managed to fire the weapon after a deputy Tased him several times.
Deputies fired multiple shots, killing him.
Outraged community activists say witnesses at the scene said that he never fired a weapon.
"He never got up to shoot anybody. He didn't even get the chance to, he was handcuffed," said Alayna Senabre, who identified the man as her fiancé, Eric Berrios.
The couple was supposed to get married this week.
Investigators say Berrios was a convicted felon who had a long criminal wrap sheet. They say if he just complied with the deputies' commands to put his hands behind his back, he would have been alive to have his day in court.
"The deputies were trying to restrain him and get his hands behind his back," said Deputy Joe Mendoza.. "At one point, they identified that he did have a gun underneath him."
Mendoza said they were not able to handcuff him as the deputies struggled to arrest him, and he managed to fire a weapon, striking a deputy in the lower torso. He was said to be in stable condition.
"As you can see in the video, there was a Tasing... All of this happened within seconds. Mr. Berrios then pivots towards his back. At that point, he continues to point the gun at a second deputy and at that time a deputy-involved is occurring," Mendoza said.
"He fired toward one of our deputies, struck him in the lower torso
An investigation into the deadly shooting is ongoing.
