A San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputy shot a woman on June 23 after mistaking a replica handgun on her lap for a real firearm, according to bodycam footage released Monday. The incident occurred around noon near Stockton during a traffic stop initiated after a report of an argument between two women.
In the released footage, the deputy approaches Erica Lee Johnson, 46, at her vehicle. Before the audio turns on, Johnson is seen reaching down inside her car. The deputy then draws his weapon, issuing a warning: "Don't reach for that."
Johnson appears to say something and reaches down again, prompting the deputy to fire his weapon. The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow stated that the deputy believed Johnson was reaching for a black pistol. He emphasized the difficulty law enforcement officers face in distinguishing between real firearms and realistic replicas in split-second decisions. "The firearm that I pulled from my holster, could you tell if it was real or not? Because that’s how quick your decision on the street has to be. They look so real nowadays it’s hard to tell," Withrow said, addressing the community.
He added, "He saw what appeared to be a real firearm, gave clear commands not to reach for it, and watched as those commands were ignored. And the individual reached towards what looked like a handgun. That is the reality of law enforcement."
Video from the traffic stop indicates Johnson was observed driving through several stop signs, speeding, and crossing the center line. It remains unclear if Johnson has been charged with any offenses.