*WARNING: This video contains violence and explicit language. Watch at your discretion.*
The Bakersfield Police Department released body-worn camera footage of a shooting from Nov. 30 that took place on Truxtun Avenue.
While the department is releasing the video, it said the investigation is still on-going and conclusions regarding the officers' actions will not be made until all of the facts are known and the investigation is completed.
According to BPD, around 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 30, a man attempted to steal a piece of heavy equipment from a road construction site in the 2000 block of Truxtun Ave by driving off in it. The piece of equipment was described as a skiploader.
BPD said when officers responded, the suspect fled from the skiploader into an older-model Nissan pickup truck. Officers confronted the suspect while he was sitting in his truck in the eastbound lane of Truxton Ave.
BPD said the officers and suspect were separated by a grass median between west and eastbound lanes of travel on Truxtun Avenue. Based upon radio traffic and body camera audio, officers believed that the suspect was in possession of a firearm, but it was later determined to be a dark-colored phone charging pack.
According to BPD and witness statements, the suspect pointed what they believed to be a firearm at officers. Officers fired and struck the suspect, who was then taken to a local hospital where BPD said he is expected to survive his injury. BPD said prior to being transported by medical aid, the suspect repeatedly made suicidal statements.
BPD said two officers were involved in the shooting, Sandeep Malhi and Kevin Shipton. One officer sustained minor injuries and was treated with first-aid only at the scene. Police said the suspect was struck at least once by the officers’ gunfire and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The involved officers remain on modified duty pending the completion of the investigation, according to BPD.
