June 2012
Date Name (Age) of DeceasedState (City)Description2012‑06‑30 Bergseth, Adam R. Missouri (Marionville) Police were called to an apartment complex regarding a woman being held against her will. When they arrived, a man approached them with a pair of scissors. The officers were "forced to use lethal force," according to a highway patrolman, and shot him to death. Since the shooting, police have discovered human remains in a garbage can outside of the house Bergseth rented.2012‑06‑30 Huey, Jared (17) California (Vallejo) Huey was shot and killed by officers after allegedly robbing a convenience store, fleeing in a stolen vehicle, and pointing a gun at officers. 2012-06-29 Moore, James Russell (64) North Carolina (Roanoke) An officer stopped Moore for suspected impaired driving. The officer noticed a gun in Moore's pocket and ordered him to the ground. Moore pulled the handgun out of his pocket and pointed at the officer who fatally shot him.2012-06-29 Perales, Adrian (26) Colorado (Greenley) Officers approached Perales' residence with an arrest warrant. Perales took a woman hostage and threatened to kill her. After a several-hour standoff, officers stormed the apartment, killing Perales and freeing the hostage.2012-06-28 Whiteshield, Benjamin (34) Oklahoma (Clinton) Whiteshield was shot by Clinton police at the station after he confronted an officer with a crescent wrench. Whiteshield was brought to the police station by family because he was acting erratically.2012‑06‑28 Hunter, Aaron (19) Arizona (Tucson) Hunter was shot to death by an officer after reaching for a gun that he had dropped while attempting to flee officers.2012-06-28 Gonzales, Denny California (Antioch) Gonzales was shot by seven different officers when he walked out of his house with a gun and allegedly fired at least one round at the police and SWAT team surrounding his home. He had reportedly called 9-1-1 claiming to be suicidal and making statements about killing police officers.2012-06-28 Miller, Kyle (21) Colorado (Broomfield) Miller was shot to death by officers after he pointed a gun at them, police say. Miller was actually holding a plastic pellet gun. Family members are recorded on the 9-1-1 tape trying to explain to police that the gun was not real, and the caller was assured that officers would realize this, and were "not going to go around shooting people." Miller was schizophrenic, struggled with bipolar disorder, and had just lost his job.2012-06-28 O'Hara, Charles (59) Texas (Cedar Park) Police were called O'Hara's home by his mother, who said he was destroying things in her home. Officers arrived to find O'Hara armed. Five officers and O'Hara exchanged fire and O'Hara was shot to death.2012-06-28 Thomas, Christopher Jerome Alabama (Dothan) He was shot to death after a short police pursuit where he crashed into an occupied parked vehicle, when officers suspected he was attempting to run over an officer.2012-06-28 Ortega, Jose Luis (22) California (Santa Maria) Ortega was shot to death by officers as he jumped out of his car and ran behind a truck. Police say Ortega was armed, a gang member, and a wanted parolee.2012-06-27 Calhoun, Christopher (38) Georgia (Atlanta) Calhoun was shot to death by officers in the Mall West End parking lot. He was a Mississippi fugitive they were seeking. Officers shot and killed him during the arrest attempt.2012-06-27 Davis, Trevion (13) Georgia (Bonanza) Clayton County police were responding to a burglary in progress when they shot and killed Davis.2012-06-27 Dowdy, Hernandez L. Tennessee (Memphis) Officers attempted to pull over Dowdy based on a false carjacking report filed by Erica M. Moore. Dowdy had fled in the car and then on foot, and was shot to death by officers when they thought he reached for his waistband. Moore recanted her story the day after Dowdy's death and received a felony charge of making a false offense report.2012-06-26 Begay, Julian Texas (Lubbock) Begay fled after being approached by an officer for suspicious activity. Officer Curtis Fish caught up with Begay, shooting and killing him after he allegedly pointed a handgun at the officer.2012-06-26 Ternes, Derek Texas (Fort Worth) Ternes was shot to death by an officer at a hotel after stealing a laptop from another resident, and afterwards shooting and injuring that resident. Officers confronted and killed Ternes, who refused to drop his weapon and fired at an officer and missed.2012-06-26 Travis, Deshone (20) Georgia (Port Wentworth) Travis was shot to death by officers while inside his car. A police investigation of a robbery led to a home where Travis' car was parked. Travis called his father to tell him that police wanted to impound his car for something related to a robbery, and his father told his son he would come talk to them. When he arrived, his son was dead. According to the resident of the home, police had wanted to search the car but had given Travis back the keys. Travis began to back away and an officer shot him three times from behind the car.2012-06-25 Watson, Karl (47) California (Indio) Watson was shot to death after killing a woman and shooting at officers.2012-06-25 Cheatham, Elip (27) Pennsylvania (Johnstown) Cheatham was shot and killed by officers when his car allegedly accelerated towards them. 2012-06-24 Moore, Michael (56) Illinois (Riverdale) Officers responded to a report of disturbance between neighbors. Officers arrived to find Moore shooting at another person. Moore refused to put down the weapon and was shot. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.2012-06-24 Mujtaba, Ghulam Yahya (62) Florida (Gainesville) Mujtaba, a diagnosed schizophrenic, was shot to death by Officers Paul Forsberg and Stephanie Pridgen after approaching them with a knife. They were reportedly unable to subdue the man with tasers. A neighbor had called 9-1-1 after Mujtaba threatened him with a knife while doing his laundry.2012-06-24 McDaniel, Kendrick Bernard (18) Texas (Dallas) McDaniel was shot and killed around 10:00 a.m. at a Taco Bell by Officer Courtney Howard, who was off-duty and getting something to eat. Howard asked McDaniel to come talk to him when he noticed a marijuana joint behind his ear. McDaniel allegedly began cursing at Howard, who drew his weapon and demanded the teenager come talk to him. McDaniel attempted to flee and fell, and police say he started to draw a handgun from his waistband as he fell. Howard then shot the 18-year-old, who died in a hospital that night. This is Howard's second off-duty shooting.2012-06-23 McCoy, Tommy Jr. (22) Tennessee (Maury City) McCoy was killed following a pursuit that began in Missouri after he reportedly almost hit an officer who was directing traffic around a fire. He was pursued into Tennessee and was shot to death while he fled on foot.2012-06-23 Ramirez, Robert California (Oxnard) Subject of possible drug overdose died in custody after arrest with physical force.2012-06-23 Godawa, Michael Kentucky (Elsmere) Godawa and Elsmere police officer David Byrd were involved in an altercation in the parking lot of a bar. Byrd shot Godawa, who drove into a utility pole.2012-06-22 Deen, Scott Joseph (19) California (Redding) Deen was shot and killed during a struggle with officers where he allegedly attempted to stab an officer. Police said stun guns were ineffective. Deen had reportedly been siphoning gas from cars in a neighborhood.2012-06-22 Driscoll, Leo J. (85) Wisconsin (Hurley) Shot and killed in his apartment by the local SWAT team after he earlier threatened his apartment manager with a handgun.2012-06-22 Smith, Malcolm South Carolina (Mullins) Killed while fleeing from officers after shooting at them. Family members witnessed his death in the street in front of their home.2012-06-21 Andino, Israel (20) New York (Rochester) Andino was shot to death by seven officers called to his home when he stabbed his mother. Andino was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had not taken medication that day, but according to family had never been violent before. His mother says she tried to explain his situation to officers. The 20-year-old was armed with a handgun, which officers say he fired but witnesses claim he did not. It was the young man's birthday. 2012-06-20 Crestwell, Chester Joseph Jr (44) Washington, D.C. Police approached a suspect regarding an attempted abduction several days prior. The suspect shot at the officer, who returned fire, killing the man.2012-06-20 Mason, Macadam (39) Vermont (Thetford) Officers responded to a call placed by Mason wherein he threatened to harm himself or others. Mason was hit by a Taser and suffered a cardiac arrest.2012-06-20 unnamed male Georgia (Morrow) Shot to death after allegedly pulling out a gun while an officer was patting him down. The man fired the gun at the driver of the vehicle, injuring him, and reportedly turned the gun at the officers, who shot and killed him. Police had pulled over a car containing five people and found that the unnamed man had an outstanding warrant.2012-06-19 Alanis, Pedro (27) California (Fresno) Shot and killed following a high-speed car chase where the man crashed a stolen truck into an occupied vehicle.2012-06-19 Majewski, Dennis Jason William California (Quincy) Shot to death by officers after threatening to go on a "killing spree". The man was armed with a knife and a hammer.2012-06-19 Howard, Robin Leander Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)Howard died of "acute pneumonia caused by blunt force trauma to the chest" on June 23. His injuries occurred after an altercation with police. Howard led police on a chase after they attempted to pull him over for traffic violations. 2012-06-18 Nichols, Anthony (32) Texas (Lubbock) Officers responded to Nichols' calls to 9-1-1 reporting that he was going to shoot a gun in the vicinity of a school late at night. Officers arrived to find Nichols with a knife and without a gun. Nichols advanced towards the officers with a knife. A canine was sent to take him down, but Nichols avoided the canine and charged the officers who shot him. Nichols died at a local hospital.2012-06-17 Robards, Larry Wayne (54) Texas (Temple) Robards had taken several hospital staff as hostages in the emergency room. Police had started negotiations when a hostage attempted to grab Robards' gun. An officer shot Robards to end the struggle. 2012-06-17 unnamed male Arizona (Apache Junction) Officers pursued a suspect in a stolen semi-truck cab who led officers on a high-speed chase. After ramming into a police vehicle and almost hitting two people, officers fatally shot the suspect.2012-06-15 Gutierrez-Morales, Bernardo Texas (El Paso) Shot to death by an officer after allegedly displaying a knife in a threatening manner. Gutierrez-Morales was 56 and homeless.2012-06-15 Overstreet, Joseph Dewey California (North Hollywood) Shot to death by an officer after approaching him with a machete and refusing commands to drop the weapon. Police had responded to a 9-1-1 call from his wife, a witness to the event, who said she had called 9-1-1 hoping they would put him in jail overnight to sober up.2012-06-15 Salinas, Charles California (Sanger) Officers were responding to a report of an armed suicidal person. When they approached the home, Salinas fled and hid behind an AutoZone. After refusing commands from officers, officers fired 30-40 rounds at Salinas, according to several witnesses. A Fresno County sheriff's official referred to this incident as a "police officer-assisted suicide."2012-06-14 Sermeno, Oscar California (North Hollywood) Officers chased Sermeno, who had just shot and killed two people, down the Hollywood Freeway until he exited, where he allegedly "refused to comply with orders" and reached back into his car to pull out what officers supposed to be a handgun. Seven officers opened fire on Sermeno, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A stray bullet grazed a customer at a nearby 7-Eleven.2012-06-14 Davis, Shantel (23) New York (Brooklyn)