34-Year-Old Jesse Dominguez Fatally Shot by California Highway Patrol Officer on Los Angeles Interstate

Accident – Death – Obituary News : LOS ANGELES — A 34-year-old man, identified as Jesse Dominguez, tragically lost his life on Sunday after being shot by a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer on Interstate 105 in Los Angeles County. Dominguez, a resident of Los Angeles, was armed with a stun gun at the time of the incident. Although the cause of his death has not been formally disclosed, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s report.

The CHP officer involved in the shooting has yet to be named, as the investigation is still ongoing. Authorities have not released any further details about the officer or the circumstances leading up to the confrontation.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, after multiple 911 calls reported a man walking on the freeway. Following these reports, a section of Interstate 105 was temporarily closed. Disturbing footage shared on social media shows the CHP officer engaged in a physical altercation with Dominguez on the pavement before ultimately shooting him at close range. The CHP has stated that the officer resorted to using lethal force after being stunned by the man’s stun gun.

Experts familiar with use-of-force protocols have commented on the officer’s actions. Former California police officer and sheriff’s deputy, Ed Obayashi, noted that stun guns or Tasers can pose a significant threat, potentially equal to that of a firearm. He emphasized that the use of a stun gun could present an immediate danger to anyone, including law enforcement officers, as it could lead to the officer being disarmed.

However, Obayashi questioned why the officer engaged in a one-on-one confrontation with Dominguez, especially considering that the freeway had been cleared, and there appeared to be no immediate danger to anyone nearby. He suggested that maintaining distance and creating an opportunity to de-escalate the situation or retreat could have been a more appropriate course of action.

“The problem is, if I got distance between an individual with a stun gun and myself, then there’s an opportunity to de-escalate, an opportunity to retreat,” Obayashi explained. “That side of the 105 was shut down so there’s no danger to anyone. My question would be what compelled this officer to approach this individual? There’s a zillion cops here, so I don’t know why this cop was by himself and approaching this individual. That’s going to be a fundamental question.”

As investigations continue, more details are expected to emerge regarding the circumstances surrounding Dominguez’s death and the actions of the CHP officer involved. The incident has sparked debate and raised questions about the use of force in law enforcement and the importance of de-escalation techniques in potentially volatile situations.

Reporting for this article was contributed by Andrew Blankstein from Los Angeles and David K. Li from New York City..