California Department of Justice Releases Report on Officer-Involved Shooting of Victor Nava

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), today released a report on Victor Nava’s death from an officer-involved shooting in Vernon, California on April 5, 2023. The incident involved an officer from the South Gate Police Department (SGPD). The report is part of the California Department of Justice's (DOJ) ongoing efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report provides a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ's findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that criminal charges were not appropriate in this case. 
 
“AB 1506 is a critical transparency and accountability tool, and our hope is that this report provides understanding that moves us towards a safer California for all,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Together, we aim to foster a system that not only protects the rights of individuals but also promotes trust and accountability between law enforcement and our communities. We appreciate the law enforcement personnel who put their lives on the line in the name of public safety. At the same time, we recognize that loss of life is always a tragedy, and we express our condolences to Mr. Nava’s family.”   
 
On April 5, 2023, the Southeast Gang Task Force— comprised of detectives and officers from the South Gate, Bell, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, and Vernon Police Departments— were conducting an operation with the goal of arresting Mr. Nava for one homicide, one attempted homicide, and several armed robberies. Once SGPD officers contacted Mr. Nava, he failed to yield to their directives and led officers on a foot pursuit. A SGPD officer followed Mr. Nava into a commercial building where Mr. Nava pushed and struck the officer in the head while reaching for their gun. The SGPD officer fired two shots at Mr. Nava, and he was later pronounced deceased. 
 
Under AB 1506, which requires DOJ to investigate all incidents of officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state, DOJ conducted a thorough investigation into this incident and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer involved acted without the intent to defend herself and others from what he reasonably believed to be the imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of the officer and no further action will be taken in this case.
 
As part of its investigation, DOJ has identified two policy recommendations related to this incident. First, DOJ recommends SGPD amend its body worn camera policy to ensure all foot pursuits are captured on body worn cameras and all equipment is in working order. Secondly, DOJ recommends SGPD list all of its current policies on its website as required by Penal Code section 13650.