San Francisco rookie cop is charged with manslaughter for shooting dead unarmed man who carjacked California State Lottery minivan
A former rookie San Francisco police officer who was on his fourth day on the job when he fatally shot an unarmed carjacking suspect in 2017 has been charged with manslaughter.
Christopher Samayoa was charged with voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, assault by an executive officer, assault with a semi automatic firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm in the killing of 42-year-old Keita O’Neil, the city's District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced on Monday.
'For too long, we have seen the failures of our legal system to hold police accountable for the violence committed against the members of the public they are entrusted to keep safe,' the prosecutor said in a statement. 'In my administration, police officers are not above the law.'
Boudin called the decision to file charges 'historic.'
Former San Francisco cop Christopher Samayoa has been charged with manslaughter, assault and negligent discharge of a firearm for the December 2017 shooting death of carjacking suspect Keita O'Neil (pictured)
In this image provided courtesy of KTVU-TV, San Francisco police investigate the officer-involved shooting on December 1, 2017
Body camera footage that was released a week later showed Samayoa seated in the passenger seat drawing his service weapon while pursuing O'Neil
'As far as we are aware, this is the first ever time that the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against a law enforcement officer for a homicide,' Boudin said at a news conference.
Samayoa’s firing in March 2018 had generated outrage from the police officer union, which said previously he was terminated for doing what he was trained to do.
'This was a needless action as any taken by someone wearing the uniform of our chief,' union president, Marty Halloran, wrote in a statement at the time.
The organization said Monday it will support Samayoa during the legal process.
'We are committed to ensuring that Christopher and his family are supported during this difficult time and that he is accorded his due process rights and provided with a vigorous defense against these charges,' Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said in a statement.
His firing came three months after he fatally shot O’Neil on December 1, 2017.
The newly hired officer fired through the glass window and struck O’Neil once
The 42-year-old suspect in a carjacking collapsed to the ground mortally wounded (pictured)
The cop who fired the single shot was riding with a training officer on his fourth day of duty
O’Neil, who died at a hospital, was suspected of assaulting a female California Lottery employee and stealing a van that belonged to the agency.
Police chased the van and another SUV seen traveling with it to a public housing area at around 10.30am. O’Neil abandoned the stolen vehicle and started running toward the patrol car occupied by Samayoa, who was in the passenger seat, and his training officer, Edric Talusan, police have said.
Body camera footage that was released a week after the officer-involved shooting shows Samayoa drawing his pistol while the cruiser was still moving. The video then shows him open the side door and fire a single shot through the window as O’Neil runs by in the opposite direction. O’Neil was not armed.
O'Neil was suspected of assaulting a California Lottery employee and stealing this van that belongs to the agency
CCTV footage captured police cars pursuing the van with O'Neil inside (seen above)
In this image provided courtesy of KTVU-TV is a San Francisco police patrol car with a shattered front passenger window and blood splattered on a side door
O'Neil's relatives were told Monday about the decision to charge the officer and O'Neil's aunt, April Green, expressed gratitude, Boudin said in a statement.
O'Neil's family expressed gratitude to the district attorney for filing charges against Samayoa
'I am happy to hear this news, and hoping it brings some justice to our family,' she said, according to the statement.
San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton, whose district includes the area where O'Neil was shot, commended the district attorney for bringing charges against the former officer.
'Bayview residents deserve to know that law enforcement officers who inflict violence and harm in our community will be held accountable,' Walton said in a statement. 'This prosecution is an important, historic step towards showing that Black lives matter and that unlawful police violence will not be tolerated.'
Samoya is expected to surrender to the police on an arrest warrant later this week. A judge set his bail at $1,000.
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