Richmond police release 911 call, bodycam video of fatal shooting of armed man threatening family
Newly released bodycam footage and 911 audio show the moments before Richmond police shoot and kill a man who was threatening his family with knives.
RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) — Newly released bodycam footage and 911 audio show the panicked moments before Richmond police shoot and kill a man who was threatening his brother and family with knives.
Police say they waited for non-lethal tools to stop the frightening situation on August 4, but it still ended with a deadly shooting.
Officers could be heard on body camera video yelling, “Richmond police, stop!”
That is the moment before Richmond Police officers shot and killed Angel Montano, who they say was armed with two knives, which can be seen in a bodycam still shot provided by officers.
It came more than nine minutes after the initial call for help to 911 and more than three minutes after officers had arrived outside.
PREVIOUS STORY: Armed man who threatened to kill people fatally shot by officers in Richmond: police
An armed man who was threatening to kill people was fatally shot by officers in Richmond on Monday night, according to police.
Montano’s brother can be heard on the 911 recording saying, “My brother became aggressive, he has mental issues…Angel, Angel please put down the knife, please put down the knife!”
Montano’s brother said his mother was in between the two of them and was threatening his life. His crying mother can be heard at times within the call.
At one point during that call, officers arrived but delayed going towards the house as they were outside waiting for a non-lethal weapon.
But then, the brother told dispatch that there was a second knife.
“Kitchen knife on his left and a regular small utility knife on his right. Please hurry! Send them in now please!” he said.
A short time after, police say officers went to the door and an armed Montano came out and went towards them, leading to the fatal shooting.
“There are two people inside that house who their lives are also in danger, so at that point we have to, it’s a balancing act, go from are we de-escalating and while we are de-escalating, are we going to let two people potentially die or get hurt or do we have to go in?” Richmond police Lt. Donald Patchin said. “And that’s the struggle that we have to make in law enforcement now. So it’s a split second decision that officers have to make based on the facts that they know at the time and that’s what occurred in this case.”
One of the officers who fired is facing a state investigation over another deadly shooting on the job earlier this year, but was approved to be back on patrol by the chief.
As for Montano’s case, the department says mental health response teams are not equipped to deal with those who are armed.
“I don’t have the answers on what can be done differently but I do hope that there will be some conversation around legislation and laws to get the people that actually need mental health assistance, the health they need so we do not end up in these type of situations,” Richmond Police Chief Bisa French said.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office is also involved in this investigation.
SAPD releases body cam footage of officer fatally shooting armed man after traffic stop turns into foot chase
The shooting happened around 7 p.m. on March 16, 2025, in the 200 block of Birchwood Drive
Spencer Heath, Digital Journalist
Published: April 15, 2025 at 5:42 PMTags: SAPD, Crime
Body cam footage shows SAPD officer fatally shooting armed man during traffic stop turned foot chase
1.7KPlay Video
Body cam footage shows SAPD officer fatally shooting armed man during traffic stop turned foot chase
NOW PLAYING
1 hospitalized after crash involving 18-wheelers on Loop 410 northbound, SAPD says
Man arrested, accused of DWI after hitting bicyclist on West Side, SAPD says
Man suffers life-threatening injuries after being hit by vehicle on North Side, SAPD says
Man hospitalized in critical condition after being hit by vehicle on West Side, SAPD says
Man arrested on DWI suspicion dies due to ‘medical episode’ while in SAPD custody, police say
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police released footage on Tuesday of an officer fatally shooting a man during a chase that stemmed from a traffic stop.
The shooting happened around 7 p.m. on March 16, 2025, in the 200 block of Birchwood Drive, not far from West Avenue.
SAPD releases body cam footage of officer fatally shooting armed suspect after traffic stop turns into foot chase
1.1KPlay Video
SAPD Officer Orlando Jimenez attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle along West Loop 1604 near Vance Jackson Road.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Miguel Morin, failed to pull over and instead parked at a nearby gas station. Police said Morin exited the vehicle with a bag and ran toward the back of the gas station.
Jimenez chased after Morin on foot across Vance Jackson Road and into the backyard of a home where Morin jumped a fence, according to police.
Jimenez noticed Morin trying to jump from another fence onto the roof of a house. However, Morin fell to the ground.
Jimenez tried to tase Morin, but it did not affect him. Jimenez noticed that Morin was armed with a knife, police said.
Police said Jimenez tried to tase Morin for a second time but to no effect. Jimenez dropped the Taser on the ground and Morin reached down to grab it.
Morin approached Jimenez with the Taser and Jimenez shot him multiple times, according to police.
Authorities said Morin was later pronounced dead from gunshot wounds. Police said he had a history of drug possession, burglary and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Jimenez has four years of service with the department.
Bodycam video shows moment Fresno PD shoot and kill domestic violence suspect
Monday, October 20, 2025
Newly released Fresno Police bodycam footage begins with a chilling 9-1-1 call from a domestic violence survivor.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The Fresno Police Department has released edited body-worn camera footage from an August 23 incident that ended with officers fatally shooting a man following a domestic violence call.
The video begins with a 911 call placed around 1:45 p.m.
“My husband was hitting me. He tried to kill me,” the caller told dispatchers.
Police say the call came from an apartment complex near Blythe Avenue and Austin Way.
The woman reported her husband, 41-year-old Joseph Merical, had strangled her before she escaped with their baby.
She also warned officers he might harm himself and could be armed with a knife.
EXCLUSIVE: Widow of man killed by Fresno Police shares her story of survival
When officers arrived, they found Merical had barricaded himself inside the apartment.
For about 90 minutes, police say they tried to communicate with him without success. Officers eventually broke a kitchen window and rammed the front door.
Bodycam video shows Merical standing on a couch, blocking the doorway with a knife in hand.
SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were called in, but Merical refused to surrender.
Just after 8 p.m., police say Merical opened the door and quickly walked down the stairs holding a knife in each hand, moving toward officers near the carports.
Officers first deployed less-lethal rounds, but when Merical continued advancing, two officers fired their rifles.
Merical was given medical aid at the scene but later died at the hospital.
Joseph’s wife, Gisela Gonzalez Merical, spoke exclusively to Action News, saying the release of the video has set her back in the grieving process.
“It’s just reigniting all those wounds and reopening them, it’s two steps back,” says Gonzalez Merical.
Since the traumatic day, the family has laid Merical to rest, and Gisela and her daughter have been in therapy.
Gisela says she understands the need for transparency and was horrified by her husband’s actions, but fears the images of his final moments could become a public spectacle.
“While it’s normal for humans to have curiosity to like oh my gosh what happened, and ignite curiosity, I just like it to be a reminder that’s also someone’s father and that’s also his last moments that’s someone losing blood and by the second their final breaths,” says Gonzalez Merical.
She added that her husband struggled with mental health issues and had sought help before the incident.
Meantime, police say their investigation remains ongoing and no one else was physically hurt during this incident.
If you are the victim of domestic abuse, or you know someone who is, there is help available 24/7. In Fresno County, call the Marjaree Mason Center at (559) 233-4357. In all other locations, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.
