SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) — The family of a man who was shot and killed by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies in February 2023 is calling on the California attorney general to file criminal charges against the deputies involved.
A federal jury on Thursday awarded the family of Antonio Garza Jr. $51.8 million, the largest award in a police shooting case in California history, attorneys for the family said.
The jury found deputies Bill Abernathy and Nicholas Kridner liable for Garza’s death.
“What began with a false claim of arson ended with the murder of our brother and a deliberate attempt by San Bernardino County and law enforcement to hide what really happened,” said Garza’s sister, Victoria Velasquez. “We’re always not going to have our brother. One part I think that helped is that now everyone gets to see the lies that they told and how they tried to cover it up.”
According to Garza’s family, the 44-year-old was experiencing a mental health episode when deputies chased him through the desert and shot him at least 12 times, including in the back and while he was curled in the fetal position. Cell phone video recorded by a bystander shows the moments before the fatal shooting.
The shooting happened off the 10 Freeway near Whitewater.
“This was an execution of a mentally ill man,” said Rebecca Brown, the attorney representing the Garza Family.
Brown says Kridner and Abernathy continue working for the sheriff’s department and have been promoted.
Eyewitness News reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for comment on the verdict but have not heard back.
Following the verdict, Garza’s family urged law enforcement agencies across California and the nation to properly train officers on how to interact with and respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis.
The family is also calling on the attorney general to pursue criminal charges in connection with the shooting.
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