Investigators concluded there’s not enough evidence to prove the officers committed a crime. According to the report, the officers likely believed they needed to shoot to save Mendoza’s life: “A prosecution, therefore, could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ use of force was unlawful.”
The report recommends the San Francisco Police Department give officers more training to designate one officer at each scene to speak with a suspect, to minimize confusing or conflicting communication.
Under state law, the DOJ is required to investigate anytime a police officer kills an unarmed citizen in California.
California is currently investigating around 50 of these cases, dating back to 2022, including five in the Bay Area. Most recently, officials said they were investigating the fatal shooting of Anthony Joseph Anderson near San Leandro.
The San Francisco Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.