Body camera footage has been released showing the events leading up to the tragic death of Guillermo Medina, a 39-year-old California man who was shot by Culver City police officers on December 18, 2022. The incident began when Medina’s wife called 9-1-1, reporting that her husband, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, was behaving erratically and had a gun.
Body camera footage shows Guillermo Medina exiting his vehicle.
During the call, Medina’s wife expressed fear for her safety, stating that Medina had been behaving unusually for three days and had shown her a gun. She informed the dispatcher that Medina was “on day three of the insanity” and had been “back and forth between [his mother’s house] and [hers].” She also mentioned a previous incident where Medina alluded to dying in a shootout.
Responding officers arrived at the scene and ordered Medina to come out with his hands up. Instead, Medina fled in his vehicle, leading police on a nearly hour-long chase across West Hollywood. During the pursuit, Medina drove recklessly, running red lights, speeding, and even ramming a stopped vehicle at an intersection to avoid police.
Guillermo Medina's car after crashing at the end of the chase
The chase ultimately ended when Medina’s vehicle crashed twice and became disabled. Body camera footage shows Medina exiting his vehicle and fleeing on foot. Officers pursued him, and at some point, an officer can be heard shouting that Medina was “reaching for his waistband.” Another officer stated that Medina had a gun in his hand.
Moments later, multiple shots were fired, and Medina was fatally wounded. It was only after the shooting that officers realized Medina had been holding a dark-colored cell phone, not a gun. A subsequent search of Medina’s vehicle did uncover a replica firearm.
Although officers attempted life-saving measures, Medina was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident has sparked outrage and grief among Medina’s family, who have since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Culver City Police Department. The lawsuit seeks compensation and punitive damages, alleging that officers used excessive force and failed to properly assess the situation before resorting to lethal force.
The tragic death of Guillermo Medina highlights the critical need for improved police training and de-escalation tactics, especially when dealing with individuals experiencing mental health crises. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences that can occur when fear and misperception dictate actions. Four separate investigations into the officer-involved shooting are currently underway.
