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Investigation finds Spokane man killed in 2022 police-shooting pointed gun at officers
13 days ago
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Spokane police released new information and bodycam footage on Thursday from the moments leading up to a 2022 police-shooting that killed a man.
According to SPD, police responded to 41-year-old Robert Bradley's home in the Hillyard neighborhood on September 4, 2022 to serve an order for him to surrender his firearms, as well as an order of protection against his neighbor.
When police arrived at Bradley's home, they found him in the passengers side of his van. Police approached with weapons drawn and asked to see his hands.
That's when, according to SPD, Bradley reached for a gun.
According to investigators, officers shot Bradley, causing him to fall to the ground. He then began crawling toward his gun and police fired more rounds.
In the bodycam footage an officer can be heard saying, "Get away! Stop reaching!" in between gunfire.
"Robert's movements were consistent were someone taking a slightly crouched shooting stance and presenting/aiming a pistol," said SPD Captain Tracie Meidl.
Spokane County Sheriff's Office and Washington State Patrol led the investigation of the shooting and revealed one of the rounds shot by officers went directly into the barrel of Bradley's pistol.
Investigators said this proves Bradley was pointing his weapon at police.
"A gun had to be pointed at another gun for that to occur," said Captain Meidl.
After firing and hitting Bradley, police handcuffed him and then applied life-saving measures.
Medics were on the scene within two-and-a-half minutes of the shooting. Bradley died an hour after being transported from the scene.
According to SPD, Bradley's neighbor had petitioned for an order of protection against him because Bradley had threatened the neighbor and his son with a gun just days before the shooting.
The neighbor had called police the night of the shooting to report he had seen Bradley walking around with an AR-style weapon.
SPD said when serving an order to surrender firearms, they always assume the subject is armed and proceed with caution.
Responding officer, Cpl. Chris Johnson had an AR-15 rifle, and two other detectives behind him had their handguns drawn.
As to why this information took 19 months to be released, SPD said investigations like this take time.
Lab testing, reviewing bodycam footage and analyzing evidence all contribute to the investigation's timeline.
In March 2024, the Prosecutor's Office ruled the shooting was a justified use of force.
The attorney representing Bradley's families released the following statement to media late Thursday evening claiming that they weren't aware that police were releasing this information in today's press conference. When trying to get into the room where it was happening, the attorney claims police did not let them in.
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