Long Beach, California: California DOJ Finds No Charges Warranted in Fatal Police Shooting of Brandon Salgado

The California Department of Justice said on Tuesday, October 27 that it found insufficient evidence to file criminal charges against a Long Beach, California police officer who fatally shot a 17-year-old during a standoff in 2024, after the teen pointed what appeared to be a gun at officers. The weapon was later identified as a replica airsoft pistol. The report closes the state investigation into the death of Brandon Salgado, and the department said no further action will be taken.

What happened on Cerritos Avenue

Officer Marco Lopez fired one shot at Salgado at about 9:58 p.m. on April 26, 2024, according to the report. Salgado had entered a home in the 6800 block of Cerritos Avenue wearing a mask and carrying a crowbar, the report said. He used the crowbar to open a gated door, pointed what appeared to be a gun at three people inside, and demanded jewelry, cellphones and wallets. One resident called 911.

Officers arrived at about 8:36 p.m. and found Salgado in a breezeway between the home and the garage. He repeatedly said he had a gun and pointed it at his own head, the report said. Officers negotiated with him for about an hour. He eventually agreed to put the apparent gun on the ground to catch a bottle of water. After another officer took over the negotiations, Salgado reached for the gun and raised it toward officers, according to the report. Officers gave medical aid before firefighters arrived, and Salgado later died of his injuries.

Why the state filed no charges

The investigation was conducted under Assembly Bill 1506, which requires the state Justice Department to investigate officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian in California. The department concluded it could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Lopez's use of force was unlawful. In its release, the department said the evidence does not show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer acted without the intent to defend himself and others from what he reasonably believed to be imminent death or serious bodily injury.

"The loss of life is always tragic, and we hope that this report provides those personally affected and the Long Beach community clarity," Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.

The limits the report records

The report said officers' body cameras did not capture much of Salgado's movements, because the officers were positioned behind a parked car for cover and Salgado was behind a fence. As part of the review, the department's Police Practices Section examined the case for policy changes and found no policy recommendations were warranted. With the criminal question answered and no policy changes proposed, the state file on the April 2024 shooting is closed.