Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Bakersfield Police Department Releases Body Camera Footage of Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Bakersfield Police Department has recently unveiled snippets of body camera footage from a tragic officer-involved shooting that occurred in late November. The incident resulted in the death of a man in his residence located on the 2100 block of Manning Street, a residential area in southwest Bakersfield.

Officer Dakota Leopardi-LaCombe, who has been serving with the department for two years, was identified as the officer responsible for firing the fatal shot on Manning Street. This incident marks the second fatal officer-involved shooting that Leopardi-LaCombe has been involved in within a span of two years.

The body camera footage identifies Officer Leopardi-LaCombe as “Officer 1.” Additionally, the other two officers present at the scene during the shooting were Officer Ryan Jordan, who has been with the department for approximately four years, and Senior Officer David Grimm, who has been with the department for a decade.

Details of the Incident

According to Bakersfield police, the body camera footage captured the intense moments leading up to the shooting. The footage reveals Officer Leopardi-LaCombe repeatedly shouting, “Drop the knife! Drop the f—— knife! Drop the knife! 9-9-8. Drop the knife!”

On the evening of November 26, 2023, three Bakersfield police officers responded to frantic calls in the neighborhood as they attempted to apprehend 53-year-old David Oh. Reportedly, Oh resisted arrest and brandished a kitchen knife, prompting Leopardi-LaCombe to fire a single shot.

Bakersfield Police Department confirmed that the kitchen knife was the only weapon in Oh’s possession. Unfortunately, Oh succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Timeline of Events

Here is a general timeline of events leading up to the officer-involved shooting:

BPD received a call from Oh at approximately 6 p.m., reporting the death of his mother. Officers arrived at the scene and conducted a death investigation for nearly two hours. During this time, they discovered that Oh had an outstanding warrant for robbery in Los Angeles and was subject to a restraining order prohibiting him from being within 100 yards of his mother.

The officers decided to delay Oh’s arrest until after the coroner’s office had transported his mother’s body. Bakersfield police explained that this delay was in accordance with standard procedure to allow officers to gather all necessary information for their reports. When Oh’s personal information was entered into the system, it triggered a “hit” due to the outstanding warrant and restraining order.

During the interaction, Officer Dakota Leopardi-LaCombe can be heard saying, “Um yeah, they’re just going to need to get your information real quick. Grab your wallet? Hey, could I have you real quick? Put your hands behind your head. Hey! Hey! Hey! He’s reaching… It’s a knife! It’s a knife! Hey!”

The body camera footage captures the first arrest attempt, during which a single shot is heard. Officers had planned to arrest Oh outside of the house in the courtyard. This incident occurred around 7:51 p.m.

Use of Force and Medical Aid

Bakersfield Police Department stated that the officers determined there was no opportunity to use non-lethal methods, as Oh was armed with a knife. Following the shooting, officers quickly secured the knife and administered medical aid to Oh. The department has not provided specific details regarding why the other two officers at the scene did not discharge their weapons.

Another officer can be heard in the footage saying, “David, we want to help you, just drop the knife.” The released video includes three different angles, each filmed by one of the officers. However, it remains unclear which officer is Officer Jordan and which is Officer Grimm in the body camera footage.

During the incident, “Officer 2” sustained a minor laceration on one of his fingers from Oh’s knife.

Release of Body Camera Footage and Ongoing Investigation

The body camera footage released by the Bakersfield Police Department is only a portion of the complete recording. A spokesperson for the department stated that they cannot confirm when or if the full video will be made available to the public. The released footage is deemed immediately relevant for public viewing.

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is still ongoing, including an evaluation of whether the use of force was justified. The department also clarified that they cannot rule out the possibility of Oh’s involvement in his mother’s death, although there is currently no evidence or connection.

Neighborhood Accounts and Prior Knowledge

Residents in the neighborhood provided accounts of the evening to 17 News back in November. They mentioned that Oh had a brother, although the brother was not present during the shooting, as confirmed by the Bakersfield Police Department.

Recent updates from neighbors indicate that Oh’s brother had been visiting the area periodically to collect mail and ensure the security of the house. When asked about any prior encounters with Oh or his residence, the BPD spokesperson could not definitively confirm any prior knowledge but stated that there was nothing out of the ordinary.

The Bakersfield Police Department has declined to respond to inquiries regarding the specific location of Oh’s injury and the potential release of the full body camera footage in the future.

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