15-Year-Old Savannah Graziano Likely Unarmed Prior To Being Shot and Killed By Hesperia Police, Per New Report
HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA (October 1, 2022) – A 15-year-old girl identified as Savannah Graziano has tragically died after being shot by Hesperia police officers.
San Bernardino County police officials are saying that the shooting took place after a 45-minute police chase. Savannah Graziano was in a pickup truck with her father, who was a fugitive from the law.
After the pickup truck came to a stop, the 15-year-old girl ran towards officers before being hit by a hail of gunfire. Her father was also hit by the gunfire.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help both people. Sadly, Savannah Graziano and her father were both killed in the shooting.
A new report indicates she was likely unarmed when she was shot and killed by police. An investigation into the deadly shooting remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Hesperia Police Shootings
According to one report from the Washington Post, 1,037 people were killed in 2021 in police shootings. Many of these shootings involve suspects that were suffering from an acute mental health crisis. In fact, mentally ill suspects were 16 times more likely to be killed by police officers than the general public. There are a number of steps that police departments should take in order to prevent police shootings.
- Officers should be well trained in crisis intervention techniques.
- Officers should be trained to recognize when a suspect is in distress.
- Officers should be trained to de-escalate crises to the best of their ability.
Depending on the facts of any case, a police department could be liable if their officers shot and killed someone. Pursuant to California Penal Code 835a. (1), “That the authority to use physical force, conferred on peace officers by this section, is a serious responsibility that shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of every human life. The Legislature further finds and declares that every person has a right to be free from excessive use of force by officers acting under color of law.” Officers are only allowed to use lethal force when doing so is necessary in self-defense or to protect human life.
California courts have consistently held that California negligence law is broader than the 4th amendment in excessive force cases. Moreover, the reasonableness of an officer’s use of lethal force is not determined solely by the events immediately prior to a shooting. Rather, a court can consider all of the actions that an officer took (or failed to take) prior to using deadly force. Generally speaking, officers must not shoot unarmed suspects. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any police shooting.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Police body camera footage should be examined.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- An independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person killed in a police shooting may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. Unfortunately, police departments will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any shooting involving their officers. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Hesperia Police Shooting
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Savannah Graziano. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability for what happened.
Do you need more information about a Hesperia police shooting? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that people are aware of their rights and that police departments are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into police misconduct we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
