In the early hours of Friday morning, a tragic incident unfolded in Martinez, involving four police officers who shot and killed an unarmed individual. The incident transpired as a response to a reported burglary at a cannabis dispensary located on Sunrise Drive, known as the Velvet dispensary. According to Martinez Police Chief Andrew White, the officers were dispatched after an alarm was triggered at the dispensary, indicating the presence of multiple individuals and two vehicles.
Upon their arrival, a white SUV, one of the two vehicles mentioned, attempted to flee the scene. In the midst of this escape, shots were fired, and an assault on one of the officers occurred. The other vehicle involved also tried to escape but crashed into a fire hydrant. The two occupants of this vehicle were subsequently transported to a hospital. The initial release from the police did not explicitly state who had fired the shots, but Chief White later clarified that all four officers discharged their firearms, leading to the unfortunate death of one of the individuals taken to the hospital.
At this time, the identities of the deceased individual and the four officers involved have not been disclosed. The condition of the surviving individual from the crashed vehicle has also not been provided. Following the incident, Chief White informed the public that the California Department of Justice has been informed and is leading the investigation in accordance with Assembly Bill 1506. This legislation mandates that all police shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian must be investigated by the state.
In response to the incident, the four officers responsible for firing their weapons have been placed on administrative leave. Additionally, an officer sustained what appears to be a minor injury and was taken to a hospital, although details about the nature of the injury remain unclear.
The ongoing investigation has led to the closure of the surrounding area since the early morning hours. The Velvet dispensary, at the center of the incident, has also remained closed throughout the day on Friday.
