Downey Police Release Video of Fatal Police-Involved Shooting — The Downey Patriot

DOWNEY – The Downey Police Department on Monday released bodycam footage of a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred over a month ago.

On June 29, officers responded to several calls about a man “causing a disturbance in the alley,” making threats and firing fireworks toward a neighbor’s home in the 7200 block of Stewart and Gray Road.

In the footage released Monday, 29-year-old Alberto Arenas argues with police officers behind a fence. Although much of the conversation between the officers and Arenas was censored, Arenas can be heard in the video saying, “I'm going to turn myself in, close the door. [censored]. What are you going to do? I don't care [censored].”

An officer continues to talk to Arenas and says, “I don't want this. I just want you to come out of here and talk to me.”

The video shows Arenas slamming the gate and fence. “Get the [censored] out of here,” he says. “Out of here [censored]. I'm serious, dog, get the [censored] out of here.”

The sound of a gun being loaded is heard before Arenas points a rifle at the gate. Then the officers fire.

Although life-saving measures were administered, Arenas was pronounced dead at the scene by the Downey Fire Department. The firearm was later determined to be an airsoft rifle.

It is unclear how many officers fired shots and how many times Arenas was hit. The identities of the officers who shot Arenas have not been publicly released.

The California Department of Justice is currently investigating whether the shooting was appropriate and will submit its findings to the California Attorney General's office. According to Acting Police Chief Scott Loughner, the Downey Police Department is also conducting an internal investigation “to ensure department policies and procedures were followed.”

In a statement at the beginning of the video, Loughner said, “Our goal is to share as much information as possible about the incident and our procedures to help you better understand what happened.”