Berkeley Police Release Additional Details and Body Cam Footage in Fatal Shooting of Auto Burglary Suspect

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BERKELEY – Police in Berkeley have provided further information, including body camera footage, regarding the fatal shooting of an auto burglary suspect by an officer last month. The department released a video presentation on Friday, showcasing footage from the officers’ cameras and audio from the 911 call made during the November 6 incident.

The release of the video presentation is part of the police department’s commitment to transparency and ensuring that the community has access to as much information as possible during critical incidents, according to public information officer Jessica Perry.

The Auto Burglary and Police Response

On the morning of November 6, at approximately 5:25 a.m., officers received a call about an auto burglary in progress at the intersection of Grayson and 7th streets. The caller informed the police that three suspects were breaking into a utility truck, using crowbars to forcefully access the toolboxes.

Upon arrival, one of the suspects was detained by an officer on the sidewalk, while the other two suspects attempted to flee in a Ford Expedition SUV. In the body camera footage, an officer can be seen pointing out the suspect vehicle, prompting another officer to enter his patrol vehicle and initiate a pursuit.

The driver of the SUV, later identified as 39-year-old David Bonino, drove towards a dead end and then reversed, colliding with an unoccupied patrol vehicle. Subsequently, he drove onto the sidewalk, endangering two officers, the detained suspect, and an unrelated pedestrian.

An officer can be heard on the video exclaiming, “He’s trying to run us over,” as the SUV accelerates towards them.

The officer who was standing next to the detained suspect fired at the driver as he passed by on the sidewalk. The SUV was then struck by another patrol vehicle. Officers approached the SUV and instructed the driver and passenger to keep their hands raised.

Upon realizing that the driver was unresponsive, officers broke the windows of the vehicle to provide medical assistance before paramedics arrived. David Bonino was transported to Highland Hospital in Oakland, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Suspects and Stolen Vehicles

The passenger of the SUV was arrested on suspicion of burglary, vehicle theft, and possession, while the male suspect was arrested on suspicion of burglary. The female suspect, identified as a 30-year-old from Oakland, and the male suspect, a 37-year-old from Novato, were previously named by the police at the time of the incident.

Both the suspect vehicle and the victim’s vehicle were determined to be stolen, according to the Berkeley Police Department.

Ongoing Investigations

The Berkeley Police Department stated that their investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Simultaneously, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is conducting its own investigation into the matter.