Santa Ana police on Thursday released body camera video from the June 14 shooting that killed 15-year-old Jaden Michaca. The case has drawn scrutiny because the teen’s family says officers responded to a mental health crisis and used excessive force.
According to the family, Michaca’s stepfather called police after saying the boy was in a mental health crisis. When officers arrived, Michaca was standing outside the home with a slash wound on his arm. Video released by police shows Michaca’s mother pleading in Spanish for him to drop the knife.
Police said officers went into the house and ordered Michaca to put down the knife, but he refused and walked toward them. Officers then fired their weapons. Santa Ana police said they did not know about Michaca’s mental health history when they responded.
The family filed a legal claim against the city last month, alleging negligence and wrongful use of deadly force. Their attorney said police should have followed mental health emergency procedures instead of choosing lethal force. The incident is under separate review by internal affairs, homicide investigators and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
