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Police Release Body Camera Videos of Willie McCoy Shooting Police Body-Cam Video Appears to Show Willie McCoy Sleeping Before He Was Fatally Shot
(about 16 hours later)
Willie McCoy appeared to be asleep in his car at a Taco Bell drive-through in Vallejo, Calif., when police officers, responding to a 911 call, arrived to check on him.Willie McCoy appeared to be asleep in his car at a Taco Bell drive-through in Vallejo, Calif., when police officers, responding to a 911 call, arrived to check on him.
Minutes later, Mr. McCoy, 20, was shot and killed. The police said he had woken up and was reaching for a gun on his lap, but Mr. McCoy’s friends and family members demanded more transparency.Minutes later, Mr. McCoy, 20, was shot and killed. The police said he had woken up and was reaching for a gun on his lap, but Mr. McCoy’s friends and family members demanded more transparency.
On Friday, the Vallejo Police Department released footage from the body-worn cameras of six officers who fired their weapons during the shooting, which occurred Feb. 9.On Friday, the Vallejo Police Department released footage from the body-worn cameras of six officers who fired their weapons during the shooting, which occurred Feb. 9.
The footage showed that Mr. McCoy appeared to be asleep for at least several minutes, and that he was shot about 10 seconds after he began to move. It was unclear whether he was reaching for a gun.The footage showed that Mr. McCoy appeared to be asleep for at least several minutes, and that he was shot about 10 seconds after he began to move. It was unclear whether he was reaching for a gun.
The police said in a statement last week that the Solano County district attorney’s office was investigating the episode, adding that the department was releasing the videos because it wanted “to address the questions that have been raised to help the public digest both the media reports and to facilitate a community dialogue about the facts of this incident.”The police said in a statement last week that the Solano County district attorney’s office was investigating the episode, adding that the department was releasing the videos because it wanted “to address the questions that have been raised to help the public digest both the media reports and to facilitate a community dialogue about the facts of this incident.”
Since the shooting, relatives of Mr. McCoy have questioned the police version of events. “Willie was shot a whole lot of times,” David Harrison, a cousin of Mr. McCoy’s who saw his body after the shooting, said in an interview in February. “Our belief is that Willie was executed, like a firing squad.”Since the shooting, relatives of Mr. McCoy have questioned the police version of events. “Willie was shot a whole lot of times,” David Harrison, a cousin of Mr. McCoy’s who saw his body after the shooting, said in an interview in February. “Our belief is that Willie was executed, like a firing squad.”
On Sunday, Melissa Nold, a lawyer for the family, said the video footage had confirmed the family’s fears. “We intend to file a federal civil rights lawsuit shortly,” she said. “Based on the videos, it looks like the officers violated basic safety principles and made no real efforts to preserve human life.”On Sunday, Melissa Nold, a lawyer for the family, said the video footage had confirmed the family’s fears. “We intend to file a federal civil rights lawsuit shortly,” she said. “Based on the videos, it looks like the officers violated basic safety principles and made no real efforts to preserve human life.”
The officers involved had been placed on administrative leave, but Ms. Nold said that they were back on duty within weeks of the shooting. Neither the police department nor the district attorney’s office immediately responded to requests for comment on Sunday.The officers involved had been placed on administrative leave, but Ms. Nold said that they were back on duty within weeks of the shooting. Neither the police department nor the district attorney’s office immediately responded to requests for comment on Sunday.
The half-hour video released by the police included footage from six body cameras, as well as an audio recording of the 911 call that ultimately brought officers to the Taco Bell drive-through.The half-hour video released by the police included footage from six body cameras, as well as an audio recording of the 911 call that ultimately brought officers to the Taco Bell drive-through.
“I have a person unresponsive to car horn honks in my drive-through,” a Taco Bell employee could be heard saying, adding: “He’s unresponsive. I’ve already had, like, people try to knock on the window. I have no idea what’s going on.”“I have a person unresponsive to car horn honks in my drive-through,” a Taco Bell employee could be heard saying, adding: “He’s unresponsive. I’ve already had, like, people try to knock on the window. I have no idea what’s going on.”
A dispatcher could then be heard calling for officers to do a “wellness check.”A dispatcher could then be heard calling for officers to do a “wellness check.”
Shortly after arriving, one officer could be heard saying: “Gun. Gun. Call it out. There’s a gun in his lap.”Shortly after arriving, one officer could be heard saying: “Gun. Gun. Call it out. There’s a gun in his lap.”
About four minutes passed while the officers tried to open the car door and moved their patrol cars to box in Mr. McCoy’s vehicle. In the videos, which were partly obscured by the officers’ drawn weapons and outstretched arms, there was no indication that the police tried to awaken Mr. McCoy, although they were shining their flashlights into his car.About four minutes passed while the officers tried to open the car door and moved their patrol cars to box in Mr. McCoy’s vehicle. In the videos, which were partly obscured by the officers’ drawn weapons and outstretched arms, there was no indication that the police tried to awaken Mr. McCoy, although they were shining their flashlights into his car.
Referring to a gun on Mr. McCoy’s lap, one officer could be heard saying that the magazine appeared to be detached from the weapon and noting that if Mr. McCoy fired the gun, he would be able to shoot only once. But in a caption added to the footage, the police said that “in fact, the gun was loaded with an extended 14-round magazine, extending past the grip.”Referring to a gun on Mr. McCoy’s lap, one officer could be heard saying that the magazine appeared to be detached from the weapon and noting that if Mr. McCoy fired the gun, he would be able to shoot only once. But in a caption added to the footage, the police said that “in fact, the gun was loaded with an extended 14-round magazine, extending past the grip.”
At one point in the video footage, officers could be heard making a plan to open the car door, seize the gun and pull Mr. McCoy out of the car. “If he reaches for it,” said one of the officers, nodding.At one point in the video footage, officers could be heard making a plan to open the car door, seize the gun and pull Mr. McCoy out of the car. “If he reaches for it,” said one of the officers, nodding.
“Yup,” said another. But they found the door locked, and Mr. McCoy appeared to remain asleep.“Yup,” said another. But they found the door locked, and Mr. McCoy appeared to remain asleep.
Eventually, Mr. McCoy could be seen beginning to stir, using his right hand to scratch at his left shoulder. “He’s moving, he’s moving,” an officer said. “He’s not up yet.”Eventually, Mr. McCoy could be seen beginning to stir, using his right hand to scratch at his left shoulder. “He’s moving, he’s moving,” an officer said. “He’s not up yet.”
Then the officers began yelling at Mr. McCoy to raise his hands. Less than 10 seconds after Mr. McCoy scratched his left shoulder, he could be seen moving his left arm, and six officers opened fire.Then the officers began yelling at Mr. McCoy to raise his hands. Less than 10 seconds after Mr. McCoy scratched his left shoulder, he could be seen moving his left arm, and six officers opened fire.
“To respect the privacy of the decedent and his family, we are withholding the portions of the videos showing officers rendering medical aid,” the police said in their statement Friday.“To respect the privacy of the decedent and his family, we are withholding the portions of the videos showing officers rendering medical aid,” the police said in their statement Friday.
The police first showed body camera footage to a few relatives of Mr. McCoy on March 13. Last Monday, Open Vallejo, a local news outlet, made a public records request for the footage. It was released to the public four days later.The police first showed body camera footage to a few relatives of Mr. McCoy on March 13. Last Monday, Open Vallejo, a local news outlet, made a public records request for the footage. It was released to the public four days later.
“I’m glad that the video was released and everyone can see it because, just like anything else, when there’s something out there that’s dangerous in the community, we want to know about it,” Mr. Harrison, Mr. McCoy’s cousin, said at a news conference on Friday. “We just happen to have police officers who are rogue out here.”“I’m glad that the video was released and everyone can see it because, just like anything else, when there’s something out there that’s dangerous in the community, we want to know about it,” Mr. Harrison, Mr. McCoy’s cousin, said at a news conference on Friday. “We just happen to have police officers who are rogue out here.”