BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County District Attorney's Office has found California Highway Patrol officer Arturo Solis legally justified in the February shooting of Aaron Przkeop on Interstate 5, north of Highway 43.
According to the D.A.'s office, on Feb. 8, at 4:42 p.m., officer Solis and his partner responded to a single car crash off of the I-5 and the 43. When they arrived they found the vehicle and Przkeop in an open field. According to the report, when officers approached Przkeop, he threatened Solis and said, "get the [expletive] back. I have a gun." Przkeop held up his right hand which was wrapped in a scarf, according to the D.A.'s office, and appeared to be concealing a gun.
The officers retreated to their patrol vehicle, according to the report, and drew their hand guns. The D.A.'s office said the officers ordered Przkeop to stop and he ignored them. Solis then grabbed a rifle from the patrol vehicle. According to the D.A.'s office, Solis warned Przkeop he would shoot if Przkeop did not stop. The report said Przkeop responded, "well [expletive] do it already!"
Przkeop made a lunging motion toward Solis, according to the D.A's office, and Solis fired the rifle three times.
Przkeop died at the scene. When officers removed the scarf from his hand, there was no weapon.
Based on the evidence, the D.A.'s office said officer Solis responded reasonably to a perceived threat in self-defense and he was legally justified.
