December 2015
Date Name (age) of deceasedRaceState (city)Description2015-12-31 Keith Childress Jr. (23) Black Nevada (Las Vegas) Childress, a suspect in an attempted murder, was confronted by police in a residential neighborhood. He had a cell phone in one hand, which police on scene said they believed was a firearm. They opened fire on him.2015-12-30 John Randell Veach (39) Unknown race Wyoming (Rawlins) A man was shot by police outside a Kum & Go gas station.2015-12-30 Fred Perez (55) Hispanic California (Fresno) Police responded to several 911 calls reporting a man beating a woman at a Fresno motel near N. Weber and N. Thorne Avenues. Upon arrival the officers saw a man stabbing a woman. They entered the room and fired a bean bag at him, but he continued stabbing the woman. They fired their weapons striking the man who died a few hours later. The woman who had suffered at least 12 stab wounds was in stable condition at a local hospital.2015-12-29 Tien Hua (33) Asian California (Rosemead) Hua, a suspect in a Hollywood Hills murder, was shot and killed after a six-hour SWAT stand-off at his home.Suspect in Fatal Hollywood Hills Shooting Dead After SWAT Standoff: Police, NBC Los Angeles2015-12-29Paul Testa (44)WhiteFlorida (Jacksonville)2015-12-29 Siolosega Velega-Nuufolau (50) Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander California (Santa Nella) Someone called 911 because Velega-Nuufolau was in the neighbor's driveway, screaming for someone to call 911. When the Sheriffs deputy arrived, Velega-Nuufolau, holding a knife, charged at the deputy. He shot her and she died at the scene. A Sheriffs office spokesman said that Velega-Nuufolau had a history of mental problems and run-ins with the officers.2015-12-28 Corey Achstein (28) White Virginia (Suffolk) Suffolk Police received multiple calls at around 5:15 p.m. about an armed individual chasing someone. According to police, Achstein was threatening to kill three juveniles while pointing a gun at them. Police said in a press release, "Based upon actions of the suspect and concern for safety, an officer fired one shot striking the suspect. A handgun was recovered in close proximity to the suspect. The investigation has revealed that the gun was actually a realistic style pneumatic bb gun." 2015-12-28 Román, Frank (49) Hispanic Puerto Rico (Ponce) Police officer Guarionex Candelario shot and killed three of his colleagues after a hostage situation.Soto Segarra, Luz M. (49)HispanicHernández de Hoyos, Rosario (42)Hispanic2015-12-27Gayneaux Paul Trahan (52)WhiteFranklin, LA2015-12-27Michael Parker (36)WhiteLucedale, MS2015-12-27Sean Mould (34)WhiteArizona (Tempe)2015-12-26 Quintonio Legrier (19) Black Illinois (Chicago) After he was threatened by his teenage son with an aluminum bat, the father called police in the early hours of Boxing Day. The Northern Illinois University student was fatally shot in the house together with a downstairs neighbor around 4:25 a.m. while charging at entering police officers. 2015-12-26Gilberto Heredia (38)HispanicHomedale, ID2015-12-26 Bettie Jones (55) Black Illinois (Chicago) Mrs. Jones was accidentally shot by a law enforcement officer after opening the entrance door for the police at the request of her upstairs neighbor Antonio LeGrier.2015-12-26 Lonnie Niesen (41) White Arizona (Phoenix) After striking a police car with a heavy object, Niesen threw objects, believed to be rocks or bricks, at the police precinct, shattering the front glass to the lobby. Niesen then walked away, still clutching the objects. When the officers approached him, he refused to stop, drop the objects or obey any police commands. He then turned toward two officers and attempted to hit one in the head with the object, hitting the officer's hand. That officer returned by shooting one time with his gun, striking the suspect.2015-12-25 William David Raff (31) White California (Palo Alto) A man armed with a knife was shot by police outside a mental health clinic in downtown Palo Alto.PA officer involved shooting2015-12-24 Daquan Antonio Westbrook (18) Black North Carolina (Charlotte) At Northlake Mall, a man armed with a firearm shot another man during an altercation. An off-duty police officer who was working for mall security shot dead the alleged gunman.2015-12-24Schuylar Gunning (36)WhiteWinnsboro, LA2015-12-24Terrozza Tyree Griffin (24)BlackLansing, MI2015-12-24Gregory Sanders (54)Unknown racePride, LA2015-12-24 Omar Ventura (23) Hispanic California (Porterville) Police were interviewing a woman at the scene of a domestic disturbance when the suspect (Omar Ventura), armed with a knife, returned. He advanced toward the woman, not dropping the knife as the officers ordered. One of the officers fired, killing Ventura.2015-12-23Kevin Matthews (35)BlackDearborn, MI2015-12-22Jose Rodriguez (19)HispanicNew Mexico (Albuquerque)2015-12-22Michael Hilber (29)WhiteBrooksville, FL2015-12-22Charles Reynolds (61)WhiteLudlow, KY2015-12-22Kenneth Stephens (56)WhiteBurlington, VT2015-12-21 Brandon Barsnick (30) White California (Smartsville) A regional SWAT team from Yuba County Sheriffs Department and Marysville Police Department went to Barsnick's home to serve a warrant and found him sitting outside the home, holding a rifle. When he pointed the rifle at the officers they shot and killed him.2015-12-21Robert Teter (39)WhiteDeltona, FL2015-12-21Bobby Daniels (48)BlackDouglasville, GA2015-12-21Michael Noel (32)BlackSt Martinville, LA2015-12-21Chan Leith (25)BlackDenver, CO2015-12-21Derek DeGroat (21)WhiteCanaan Township, PA2015-12-21Alfredo Barrientos (47)HispanicLaredo, TX2015-12-21 Guadalupe Quiroz (34) Hispanic California (Hemet) Hemet Police officers responded to an early-morning call about a man waving a gun in a mobile home park. When they arrived about 3 a.m. and confronted the man, he brandished the gun so they shot and killed him.2015-12-20Jeffrey Hiltz (35)WhiteDanvers, NH2015-12-20Mark Ramirez (31)HispanicAmarillo, TX2015-12-20Lionel Waters (35)BlackHarrington, DE2015-12-20 Leroy Browning (30) Black California (Palmdale) Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputies were investigating an accident where an apparently drunken man had crashed into a fast food restaurant. They had placed the DUI suspect in the back of a patrol car. When they attempted to place him in handcuffs and arrest him he fought the deputies. A Sheriffs' Department spokesperson said he attempted to grab a deputy's gun and another deputy shot and killed him.2015-12-19 Ruben Herrera (26) Hispanic California (Torrance) Herrera had been injured during his arrest for vandalism and was taken for treatment to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He was treated without incident and handcuffed to a gurney. When the handcuffs were briefly taken off he picked up a chair and swung it as a weapon. In the struggle he reached for the officer's weapon. The officer then shot and killed him.2015-12-19Trevon Scruggs (24)BlackConcord, VA2015-12-19 Nelson, Roy (42) California (Hayward) Hayward Police responded about 1:00 am to a request for an emergency mental health evaluation. They put Roy Nelson in the back seat of their car and during the drive to the hospital he began to kick at the back window. They stopped to place him in a leg restraint. The police say he suffered a "medical emergency." Emergency services were called but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.2015-12-18Erica Lauro (22)WhiteNorthwood, OH2015-12-18Amos Frerichs (32)WhiteKnoxville, TN2015-12-18Edel Moreland (32)WhiteLinthicum Heights, MD2015-12-18Robert L. Martinez (58)HispanicTaos, NM2015-12-17Douglas Yon (25)WhiteKent, OH2015-12-17 Christopher Fletcher (24) White California (Modesto) Modesto police attempted to stop Fletcher who was riding his bike on a sidewalk about 2:10 p.m. They followed him into a parking garage and saw that he was carrying a weapon. When he failed to drop his weapon as ordered, the two officers fired several shots, mortally wounding Fletcher. He died at a local hospital. Police say he was on probation.2015-12-16 Bryant Duncan (23) White California (Camarillo) Duncan took a cordless telephone from a convenience store and called 911 to report that a crime was about to take place. When an officer from the Ventura County Sheriffs Department arrived Duncan, holding a knife, walked toward the officer and told the officer to kill him. As Duncan approached, the officer fired several shots, killing him.2015-12-15Ronnie Dubose Carr (51)BlackDallas, NC2015-12-15Shun Ma (64)AsianSeattle, WA2015-12-14 Mark Toney (33) White West Virginia (Mount Hope) Law enforcement were dispatched to a home in response to an intoxicated man with a knife. When Mount Hope Police officers first arrived on scene, the man was allegedly carrying a shotgun in the front yard. When police asked the suspect to drop his weapon, he pointed the firearm in the direction of oncoming officers. Mount Hope Police responded to firing several shots at the man. He was pronounced dead on the scene.2015-12-14Brenda Dean Kimberling (48)WhiteLas Vegas, NV2015-12-14Calvin McKinnis (33)BlackNew Orleans, LA2015-12-14Roberto Ortiz Sanchez (45)HispanicLas Vegas, NV2015-12-14Jeffrey Evans (52)WhiteMiddle River, MD2015-12-14Michael Thomason (56)WhiteMilan, TN2015-12-14 Mharloun Verdejo Saycon (39) Asian California (Long Beach) Long Beach Police were called to a business because a man was waving a knife around and customers were afraid. When officers arrived Saycon was seated, still holding the knife. When he did not obey officers' orders to drop the knife they used their "electronic devices" and then batons to try to subdue him. During the struggle police shot and killed Saycon. The family, in their legal claim filed later, say that he had been diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia.2015-12-14 Hector Alvarez (19) Hispanic California (Gilroy) Gilroy Police officers were directed to a domestic disturbance call. When officers arrived at the carport area, Alvarez confronted one of them charging at the officer. One of the officers shot and killed Alvarez. The shooting occurred within ninety seconds of the officer's arrival.2015-12-13Ryan McMillan (21)WhiteDenton, TX2015-12-13Shirley Weis (51)WhiteArlington, TX2015-12-13Enrique Gonzalez (32)HispanicDenver, CO2015-12-13Feagaiga Tausaga "Nephi" Leiataua (30)Native Hawaiian or Pacific IslanderLacey, WashingtonDeputies responded to reports of a victim with multiple stab wounds saying he'd been attacked by his cousin, Leiataua, who was now holding a 3-year-old hostage with a knife. After a three hour standoff, a police sharp shooter killed Leiataua, "due to imminent concern" for the safety of the child.2015-12-12 Nicholas Robertson (28) Black California (Lynwood) Multiple 911 calls reported a man firing a gun in the air while walking through a residential area. Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies confronted Robertson in front of a gas station. They shot him 33 times after he refused to drop the gun.2015-12-12 Roy Carreon (49)Hispanic California (San Bernardino) San Bernardino Police officers were flagged down for a disturbance and saw Carreron in an apartment holding a woman and threatening her with a knife. The woman got away but Carreron did not follow officers' order to drop the knife. The police shot four or five times, striking Carreron who later died at a hospital.2015-12-12Jonathan Wardlow (36)WhiteHealdton, OK2015-12-12Javario Shante Eagle (24)BlackChattanooga, TN2015-12-12Efrain VillanuevaUnknown raceAurora, CO2015-12-12 Andrew Joseph Todd (20) White Pennsylvania (East Stroudsburg) Todd was reportedly suicidal, and was brandishing two firearms and a machete at customers inside a Wal-Mart. Police ordered him to drop it, and then opened fire on Todd.2015-12-12Christopher Goodlow (25)BlackIndiana (Indianapolis)2015-12-11Steven Wickert (36)WhiteArizona (Tucson)2015-12-10 Thomas Gendreau Jr (54) White California (Marina) When a woman called 911 to report her husband was attacking her, Marina Polic