California Department of Justice Releases Report on Officer-Involved Shooting of Abigail Lopez

OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta, in accordance with Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), today released a report on the death of Abigail Lopez from an officer-involved shooting in Anaheim, California on October 29, 2023. The incident involved officers from the Anaheim Police Department (APD). This report is part of ongoing efforts by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report presents a thorough analysis of the incident that outlines DOJ's findings. After an extensive investigation, DOJ concluded that the evidence does not support filing criminal charges in this case.

"Incidents like these are always troubling, and we hope this report helps bring a sense of closure and clarity to the community and those personally impacted," said Attorney General Bonta. "My office is continually working to build a safer California and AB 1506 is crucial in that process. We aim to foster a system that not only protects the rights of individuals but also promotes trust and accountability between law enforcement agencies and Californian communities."

On October 29, 2023, APD officers responded to a 911 call regarding an individual with what appeared to be an assault rifle in a public intersection in the City of Anaheim. Upon arrival, they located Ms. Lopez at a bus stop and saw that she was holding what appeared to be a gun. They ordered Ms. Lopez to drop the gun, but she did not comply. After a short period of time, Ms. Lopez began pointing the apparent gun in the direction of the officers. When she did so, they fired their own guns, fatally shooting Ms. Lopez. After the shooting, it was discovered that Ms. Lopez's apparent firearm was a gel blaster, a type of replica firearm.

Under AB 1506, which requires DOJ to investigate all cases of officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian in California, DOJ conducted a detailed investigation into this incident. The investigation concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers involved acted without the intent to defend themselves and others from what they reasonably believed to be the imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury. Therefore, there is not sufficient evidence to criminally prosecute the officers, and no further action will be taken in this case.

As part of the investigation, DOJ has identified three recommendations related to this incident. The first recommendation is that APD should provide further training on dispatch communication to ensure dispatchers remain professional at all times, obtain and relay pertinent information to officers, determine appropriate priority coding or other alerts for an armed subject or if subjects may be experiencing a mental health crisis. The second recommendation is that APD provide additional officer training on using communication as an effective de-escalation strategy. The third recommendation is that APD amend its de-escalation policy and training to comply with state law.

Here is a copy of the report.