The Contra Costa District Attorney's Office said Friday it determined San Pablo police were legally justified in shooting and killing a 45-year-old man who appeared to be holding a handgun during a traffic stop in 2021.
, police were called to the parking lot of the Evergreen Market in San Pablo. A market employee said a white or Hispanic male in the parking lot was holding a firearm.
A dispatcher radioed to officers that Valdez was seen driving a red Toyota Tacoma recklessly out of the parking lot. Officers spotted the vehicle and pursued Valdez until he pulled over. Officers noted Valdez appeared to be moving around the cab of the truck in an unusual manner. With weapons drawn, officers ordered Valdez to show his hands multiple times.
After repeated commands by police to drop the weapon, Valdez allegedly brought the weapon up. Officers responded by firing at him. The gun was later identified as a BB handgun. Emergency medical responders attempted life-saving measures and later transported Valdez to a local hospital where he later died from his wounds.
The report also said on Dec. 15, about an hour before the 911 call was made, an employee from the Evergreen Market interacted with Valdez in the parking lot after Valdez called him over to his truck. Valdez attempted to give the worker money, but the worker refused. He then began to cry and the worker offered to help him. Valdez allegedly said there was no way to solve his problem and that he wasn't going to kill himself but would"let the cops do it for me.