Man wielding flamethrower killed by police in California adult shop
Three officers and a police dog sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Dramatic police bodycam footage has revealed the moments leading up to an officer-involved shooting in San Diego, where a man armed with a makeshift flamethrower was killed after confronting officers inside an adult shop. Three officers and a police K-9 were injured during the Sept. 16 incident.
The San Diego Police Department released the video Thursday, showing the confrontation that ended with the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Saul Sandoval Chavez.
The incident began when officers responded to reports of a man behaving violently and attempting to break into vehicles in the North Park neighborhood. According to police, Chavez was carrying a torch lighter and an aerosol can, which he allegedly used to create a flamethrower.
Footage shows the pursuit moving through the neighborhood, with the suspect allegedly damaging vehicles before taunting officers with the weapon. The confrontation escalated when Chavez entered the Adult Emporium sex shop, where he allegedly turned the flamethrower on police officers.
Inside the store, a store employee was seen fleeing as officers deployed bean bag rounds to subdue Chavez. Police then sent in K-9 Ryder, who sustained burns to its face and upper body after the suspect allegedly turned the flamethrower on the dog.
Bodycam footage shows an officer moving in and firing shots at Chavez, who was engulfed in flames after one of the shots apparently struck the aerosol canister he was holding. Officers immediately rushed in to extinguish the flames and attempted to perform CPR on the suspect.
Chavez was transported to a hospital where he later died. The three officers involved sustained burn injuries and were treated. K-9 Ryder received treatment at a veterinary hospital.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the shooting, with the findings to be reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor the investigation, while the San Diego Police Department conducts its own review of the incident and departmental policies.