Contra Costa County DA charges Officer Hall in fatal 2018 shooting, body cam footage from fatal March shooting released

(Joshua Rashaad McFadden / Getty Images)

By Ian Firstenberg

(DANVILLE, Calif.) Danville Police Officer Andrew Hall was put on leave Thursday after being charged with voluntary manslaughter Wednesday by the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office for the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old Newark man in 2018.

This comes after the Contra Costa County Sheriff's department released body cam footage Wednesday evening of Officer Hall fatally shooting a homeless man in March of this year.

"Officer Hall used unnecessary and unreasonable force when he responded to the in-progress traffic pursuit involving Laudemere Arboleda, endangering not only Mr. Arboleda's, life but the lives of fellow officers and citizens in the immediate area," said Contra Costa County District Attorney Diane Becton of the 2018 shooting.

Laudemere Arboleda, 33 of Newark, was killed following a slow-speed traffic pursuit in November of 2018. His neighbors reported someone acting suspiciously which eventually led to the subsequent shooting.

According to the DA's office, Arboleda drove away from officers who pulled him over for a traffic violation. During the pursuit through downtown Danville, Hall stopped his car in front of an approaching Arboleda. As Arboleda swerved to move between Hall's vehicle and another patrol car, Hall went to the rear of his vehicle and fired his weapon, hitting Arboleda nine times.

The footage released Wednesday is from Hall's body camera when he responded to reports of a man throwing rocks on Interstate 680 from the Sycamore Valley Road overpass. In the video, Hall called to a man he sees jaywalking, Tyrell Wilson, and the two men got in a verbal altercation.

“Don’t touch me or you’ll see what’s up,” Wilson said to Hall with a foldable knife in his right hand. Hall then drew his weapon and told Wilson to put the knife down.

Wilson then approached Hall with his arms by his sides and said "Kill me." Hall then fired a single round and Wilson fell to the ground.

One bystander was heard yelling in the video, "You didn't have to shoot him."

Following the 2018 shooting, the police chief at the time Allan Shields — who is now in charge of police oversight and budget for the department — said that Hall feared for his life. Becton dismissed this claim noting that Hall failed to apropriately deescalate the situation.

“We in law enforcement must conduct ourselves in a professional and lawful manner when interacting with the public. Officer Hall’s actions underscore the need for a continued focus on de-escalation training and improved coordinated responses to individuals suffering from mental illness," said Becton.

Civil rights attorney John Burris is representing both the Wilson and Arboleda families in lawsuits against the town of Danville. In the Wilson case, Burris filed a federal lawsuit against Hall, the town of Danville and the Danville Police Department. Burris filed a wrongful death suit against Danville and the county for Arboleda's death.

“The delay in prosecuting Hall is particularly hurtful because Hall recently shot and killed [Wilson] under very questionable circumstances. Wilson could be alive if Hall had been prosecuted earlier,” said Burris in a statement delivered to the media Wednesday.

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