List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, December 2015

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This is a list of people reported killed by non-military law enforcement officers in the United States in December 2015, whether in the line of duty or not, and regardless of reason or method. The listing documents the occurrence of a death, making no implications regarding wrongdoing or justification on the part of the person killed or officer involved. Killings are arranged by date of the incident that caused death. Different death dates, if known, are noted in the description. The table below lists 37 people.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.


December 2015[edit]

Date Name (age) of deceased State (city) Description
2015-12-31 Childress, Keith (23) Nevada (Las Vegas) Childress, a suspect in an attempted murder, was confronted by police in a residential neighborhood. He had a cell phone in one hand, which police on scene said they believed was a firearm. They opened fire on him.[1]
2015-12-30 Veach, John Randall (39) Wyoming (Rawlins) A man was shot by police outside a Kum & Go gas station.[2]
2015-12-30 Perez, Fred (55) California (Fresno) Police responded to several 911 calls reporting a man beating a woman at a Fresno motel near N. Weber and N. Thorne Avenues. Upon arrival the officers saw a man stabbing a woman. They entered the room and fired a bean bag at him, but he continued stabbing the woman. They fired their weapons striking the man who died a few hours later. The woman who had suffered at least 12 stab wounds was in stable condition at a local hospital.[3][4]
2015-12-29 Hua, Tien (33) California (Rosemead) Hua, a suspect in a Hollywood Hills murder, was shot and killed after a six-hour SWAT stand-off at his home.[5]
2015-12-29 Velega-Nuufolau, Siolosega (50) California (Santa Nella) Someone called 911 because Velega-Nuufolau was in the neighbor's driveway, screaming for someone to call 911. When the Sheriffs deputy arrived, Velega-Nuufolau, holding a knife, charged at the deputy. He shot her and she died at the scene. A Sheriffs office spokesman said that Velega-Nuufolau had a history of mental problems and run-ins with the officers.[6][7]
2015-12-28 Achstein, Corey (28) Virginia (Suffolk) Suffolk Police received multiple calls at around 5:15 p.m. about an armed individual chasing someone. According to police, Achstein was threatening to kill three juveniles while pointing a gun at them. Police said in a press release, "Based upon actions of the suspect and concern for safety, an officer fired one shot striking the suspect. A handgun was recovered in close proximity to the suspect. The investigation has revealed that the gun was actually a realistic style pneumatic bb gun."[8]
2015-12-28 Román, Frank (49) Puerto Rico (Ponce) Police officer Guarionex Candelario shot and killed three of his colleagues after a hostage situation.[9]
Soto Segarra, Luz M. (49)
Hernández de Hoyos, Rosario (42)
2015-12-26 LeGrier, Quintonio (19) Illinois (Chicago) After he was threatened by his teenage son with an aluminum bat, the father called police in the early hours of Boxing Day. The Northern Illinois University student was fatally shot in the house together with a downstairs neighbor around 4:25 a.m. while charging at entering police officers.[10][11]
2015-12-26 Jones, Bettie (55) Illinois (Chicago) Mrs. Jones was accidentally shot by a law enforcement officer after opening the entrance door for the police at the request of her upstairs neighbor Antonio LeGrier.[12]
2015-12-26 Niesen, Lonnie (46) Arizona (Phoenix) After striking a police car with a heavy object, Niesen threw objects, believed to be rocks or bricks, at the police precinct, shattering the front glass to the lobby. Niesen then walked away, still clutching the objects. When the officers approached him, he refused to stop, drop the objects or obey any police commands. He then turned toward two officers and attempted to hit one in the head with the object, hitting the officer's hand. That officer returned by shooting one time with his gun, striking the suspect.[13]
2015-12-25 Raff, William David (31)[14] California (Palo Alto) A man armed with a knife was shot by police outside a mental health clinic in downtown Palo Alto.[15]
2015-12-24 Westbrook, Daquan Antonio (18) North Carolina (Charlotte) At Northlake Mall, a man armed with a firearm shot another man during an altercation. An off-duty police officer who was working for mall security shot dead the alleged gunman.[16]
2015-12-24 Ventura, Omar (23) California (Porterville) Police were interviewing a woman at the scene of a domestic disturbance when the suspect (Omar Ventura), armed with a knife, returned. He advanced toward the woman, not dropping the knife as the officers ordered. One of the officers fired, killing Ventura.[17][18]
2015-12-21 Barsnick, Brandon E. (30) California (Smartsville) A regional SWAT team from Yuba County Sheriffs Department and Marysville Police Department went to Barsnick's home to serve a warrant and found him sitting outside the home, holding a rifle. When he pointed the rifle at the officers they shot and killed him.[19][20][21]
2015-12-21 Quiroz, Guadalupe (34) California (Hemet) Hemet Police officers responded to an early-morning call about a man waving a gun in a mobile home park. When they arrived about 3 a.m. and confronted the man, he brandished the gun so they shot and killed him.[22][23]
2015-12-20 Browning, Leroy T. (30) California (Palmdale) Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputies were investigating an accident where an apparently drunken man had crashed into a fast food restaurant.[24] They had placed the DUI suspect in the back of a patrol car. When they attempted to place him in handcuffs and arrest him he fought the deputies. A Sheriffs' Department spokesperson said he attempted to grab a deputy's gun and another deputy shot and killed him.[25]
2015-12-19 Herrera, Ruben Jose (26) California (Torrance) Herrera had been injured during his arrest for vandalism and was taken for treatment to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He was treated without incident and handcuffed to a gurney. When the handcuffs were briefly taken off he picked up a chair and swung it as a weapon. In the struggle he reached for the officer's weapon. The officer then shot and killed him.[26][27]
2015-12-19 Nelson, Roy (42) California (Hayward) Hayward Police responded about 1:00 am to a request for an emergency mental health evaluation.[28] They put Roy Nelson in the back seat of their car and during the drive to the hospital he began to kick at the back window. They stopped to place him in a leg restraint. The police say he suffered a "medical emergency." Emergency services were called but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.[29]
2015-12-17 Fletcher, Christopher (24) California (Modesto) Modesto police attempted to stop Fletcher who was riding his bike on a sidewalk about 2:10 p.m. They followed him into a parking garage and saw that he was carrying a weapon. When he failed to drop his weapon as ordered, the two officers fired several shots, mortally wounding Fletcher. He died at a local hospital. Police say he was on probation.[30][31]
2015-12-16 Duncan, Bryant Neil (23) California (Camarillo) Duncan took a cordless telephone from a convenience store and called 911 to report that a crime was about to take place. When an officer from the Ventura County Sheriffs Department arrived Duncan, holding a knife, walked toward the officer and told the officer to kill him. As Duncan approached, the officer fired several shots, killing him.[32][33][34]
2015-12-14 Toney, Mark (33) West Virginia (Mount Hope) Law enforcement were dispatched to a home in response to an intoxicated man with a knife. When Mount Hope Police officers first arrived on scene, the man was allegedly carrying a shotgun in the front yard. When police asked the suspect to drop his weapon, he pointed the firearm in the direction of oncoming officers. Mount Hope Police responded to firing several shots at the man. He was pronounced dead on the scene.[35]
2015-12-14 Saycon, Mharloun Verdejo (39) California (Long Beach) Long Beach Police were called to a business because a man was waving a knife around and customers were afraid. When officers arrived Saycon was seated, still holding the knife. When he did not obey officers' orders to drop the knife they used their "electronic devices" and then batons to try to subdue him. During the struggle police shot and killed Saycon.[36][37] The family, in their legal claim filed later, say that he had been diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia.[38]
2015-12-14 Alvarez, Hector (19) California (Gilroy) Gilroy Police officers were directed to a domestic disturbance call. When officers arrived at the carport area, Alvarez confronted one of them charging at the officer. One of the officers shot and killed Alvarez. The shooting occurred within ninety seconds of the officer's arrival.[39][40][41]
2015-12-13 Leiataua, Feagaiga Tausaga "Nephi" (30) Lacey, Washington Deputies responded to reports of a victim with multiple stab wounds saying he'd been attacked by his cousin, Leiataua, who was now holding a 3-year-old hostage with a knife. After a three hour standoff, a police sharp shooter killed Leiataua, "due to imminent concern" for the safety of the child.[42]
2015-12-12 Robertson, Nicholas (28) California (Lynwood) Multiple 911 calls reported a man firing a gun in the air while walking through a residential area. Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies confronted Robertson in front of a gas station. They shot him 33 times after he refused to drop the gun.[43]
2015-12-12 Carreon, Roy (49) [44] California (San Bernardino) San Bernardino Police officers were flagged down for a disturbance and saw Carreron in an apartment holding a woman and threatening her with a knife. The woman got away but Carreron did not follow officers' order to drop the knife. The police shot four or five times, striking Carreron who later died at a hospital.[45]
2015-12-12 Todd, Andrew Joseph (20) Pennsylvania (East Stroudsburg) Todd was reportedly suicidal, and was brandishing two firearms and a machete at customers inside a Wal-Mart. Police ordered him to drop it, and then opened fire on Todd.[46]
2015-12-10 Gendereau, Thomas Arthur, Jr. (54) California (Marina) When a woman called 911 to report her husband was attacking her, Marina Police officers responded. When they arrived Thomas Gendereau continued to stab his wife. One officer shot Genderau. Both Genderau and his wife were taken to a hospital, where both died.[47][48][49][50]
2015-12-10 Name Withheld California (Hemet) Hemet Police officers shot and killed a man whom they report was agitated and brandishing a handgun. They also say he was wanted on a felony warrant. They withheld his name.[51][52]
2015-12-06 Azevedo, Raymond (35) Seattle, Washington Employees at a downtown coffee shop reported seeing a man with a gun to police. The man, Azevedo, fled, carjacking a series of vehicles and firing at police as they pursued him. Azedevo was shot dead after aiming his car at officers.[53]
2015-12-05 Perez, Juan (38) California (Indio) An Indio Police officer investigating a theft of a golf cart encountered a suspect matching the description given. The officer attempted to apprehend the suspect who was armed, and shots were exchanged. Juan Perez was killed.[54][55]
2015-12-02 Farook, Syed Rizwan (28) California (San Bernardino) After committing a terrorist attack during a staff meeting at the Inland Regional Center around 11.00 am together with his wife, both were stopped in their black Ford Expedition SUV after a tip off around 4 hours later on East San Bernardino Avenue and killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers.[56][57][58]
2015-12-02 Malik, Tashfeen (29) California (San Bernardino) Committed together with her husband the San Bernardino terrorist attack and was killed together with him about four hours later.[56][57][58]
2015-12-02 Woods, Mario (26) California (San Francisco) Woods, a suspect in the stabbing and wounding of a man the same day, was allegedly armed with a kitchen knife while he was confronted by at least five police officers in Bayview-Hunters Point. A video captured by a bystander showed Woods having his arms towards his sides and slowly walking towards one officer and away from four other officers. One officer stepped towards Woods, and opened fire. At least fifteen shots were fired by the officers.[59]
2015-12-01 Gonzalez, John Anthony (18) California (Norwalk) Gonzalez and another man were stopped as pedestrians by deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department working with the Department's "Safe Streets" program. As the two deputies approached, one man drew and dropped a weapon; Gonzalez pointed his weapon at the deputies. The deputies shot and killed Gonzalez. The other man was arrested. A sheriffs department spokesman said both men were gang members.[60][61]

See also[edit]

This section is transcluded from List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States. (edit | history)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Las Vegas police say suspect killed as phone mistaken for gun". Yahoo News. January 2, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  2. ^ "Person allegedly killed in officer-involved shooting". Rawlins Times. December 31, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  3. ^ "Man Stabbing Woman Shot Dead by Fresno Police". kmjnow.com. December 30, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  4. ^ Reed, MistiDawn. "Fresno Police Shoot – Kill Stabbing Suspect". Fox26 News. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  5. ^ Suspect in Fatal Hollywood Hills Shooting Dead After SWAT Standoff: Police, NBC Los Angeles
  6. ^ "Siolosega Velega-Nuufolau 11265". fatalencounters.org. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  7. ^ Parsons, Rob (29 December 2015). "Authorities identify woman fatally shot by deputy in Santa Nella". fresnobee.com. Fresno Bee. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Family identifies man killed in officer-involved shooting". WVEC. December 29, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  9. ^ Ibarra, Rebeca (December 28, 2015). "Rogue cop storms police headquarters in Puerto Rico, fatally shoots three fellow officers, including commander". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Yan, Holly; Friedman, Chandler (December 27, 2015). "Chicago: Woman 'accidentally' shot and killed by an officer, police say". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  11. ^ "2 Killed in Chicago Police Shooting Identified". abcnews.go.com. December 26, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  12. ^ Holmes, Evelyn; Gallardo, Michelle (December 26, 2015). "2 Officer-involved shootings draw new scrutiny to CPD". abc7chicago.com. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  13. ^ Mitchell, Garrett (2015-12-27). "Man fatally shot by Phoenix officers identified". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  14. ^ Dremann, Sue (December 28, 2015). "Man fatally shot by Palo Alto police identified". paloaltoonline.com. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  15. ^ PA officer involved shooting
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  17. ^ "Man fatally shot by police". Recorder Online. Porterville Recorder. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Omar Ventura 11251". fatalencounters.org. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Brandon E. Barsnick 11242". fatalencounters.org. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  20. ^ Vaughan, Monica (22 December 2015). "Yuba County standoff ends in wanted man's death". appeal-democrat.com. Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, California. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  21. ^ "Yuba County Sheriff: Smartsville man fatally shot by law enforcement Monday night". theunion.com. The Union, Grass Valley, California. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  22. ^ "Guadalupe Quiroz 11240". fatalencounters.org. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  23. ^ Tadayon, Alti; Shultz, Craig (21 December 2015). "HEMET: Police kill man they say was waving gun at mobile home park (UPDATE 2)". www.pe.com. Press-Enterprise, (Riverside, California). Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  24. ^ "Leroy T. Browning 11236". fatalencounters.org. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  25. ^ Perez, Jessica; Woo, Oleevia (20 December 2015). "Man Killed in Deputy-Involved Shooting in Palmdale". nbclosangeles.com. NBC-TV 4 Los Angeles. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  26. ^ "Ruben Jose Herrera 11230". fatalencounters.org. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  27. ^ Bloom, Tracy; Kuzj, Steve (19 December 2015). "LAPD: Vandalism Suspect Fatally Shot by Police at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center". ktla.com. KTLA TV Los Angeles. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  28. ^ "Roy Nelson 11231". fatalencounters.org. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  29. ^ Kelly, George; DeBolt, David (15 August 2016). "Hayward: Man dies while in police custody". eastbaytimes.com. East Bay Times. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  30. ^ "Christopher Fletcher 11226". fatalencounters.org. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  31. ^ Iqbal, Maneeza (21 December 2015). "Suspect shot, killed by Modesto police". kcra.com. KCRA-TV Sacramento. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  32. ^ "Bryant Neil Duncan (11224)". fatalencounters.org. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  33. ^ Von Quednow, Cindy (17 December 2015). "Officials identify man shot and killed by Camarillo deputy". vcstar.com. Ventura County Star. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  34. ^ "Authorities Investigating Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting in Camarillo". keyt.com. News Press and Gazette, Santa Barbara, California. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  35. ^ Kline, Jared (2015-12-22). "WV State Police confirm ID of Mount Hope Man". WVNS-TV. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  36. ^ "Mharloun Verdejo Saycon 11219". fatalencounters.org. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  37. ^ Smith, Keeley (17 December 2015). "UPDATE: Knife-Wielding Man Killed by Long Beach Police at Arcade Identified". lbpost.com. Long Beach Post. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  38. ^ Queally, James; Vives, Ruben (17 March 2016). "Family claims Long Beach police used excessive force in killing of mentally disabled man". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  39. ^ "Hector Alvarez (11222)". fatalencounters.org. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  40. ^ "Man Fatally Shot By Gilroy Police Allegedly Hurt Girlfriend". sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com. CBS News. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  41. ^ "Police Shoot, Kill Man". gilroydispatch.com. Gilroy Dispatch. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  42. ^ "Thurston County SWAT marksman shoots tattoo artist to end hostage standoff". theolympian. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  43. ^ Jablon, Robert; Nguyen, Daisy (2015-12-14). "Nicholas Robertson, man killed by LA deputies, had gun in his hand, officials say". washingtontimes.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
  44. ^ "Roy Carreon 11205". fatalencounters.org. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  45. ^ Valenzuela, Beatriz (12 December 2015). "Knife-wielding man shot, killed by San Bernardino police". sbsun.com. San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  46. ^ "Machete-wielding man threatening Walmart customers shot, killed by police". 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  47. ^ "Thomas Arthur Gendereau Jr. 11201". fatalencounters.org. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  48. ^ Ceballos, Ana (11 December 2015). "Marina police shoot and kill man who killed wife last night". montereycountyweekly.com. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  49. ^ Beltran, Bianca (11 December 2015). "2 dead after Marina officer-involved shooting". KSBW.com. KSBW-TV, Monterey. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  50. ^ Wright, Tommy (11 December 2015). "Marina double fatality: Police shoot assault suspect, assault victim later dies". santacruzsentinel.com. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  51. ^ "Suspect killed in Hemet officer-involved shooting". abc7.com. KABC-TV 7 Los Angeles. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  52. ^ Avila, William; Shin, Tony (10 December 2015). "Parolee Allegedly Armed With Handgun Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting in Hemet". nbclosangeles.com. KNBC-TV 4 Los Angeles. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  53. ^ "SPD releases dramatic video, details in fatal shooting of carjacker". The Seattle Times. 2015-12-07. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  54. ^ "Juan Perez 11187". fatalencounters.org. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  55. ^ Newkirk, Barrett (8 December 2015). "Man fatally shot by Indio police identified". desertsun.com. Desert Sun (Palm Springs). Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  56. ^ a b Almasy, Steve; Lah, Kyung; Moya, Alberto (December 3, 2015). "At least 14 people killed in shooting in San Bernardino; suspect identified". edition.cnn.com. Atlanta, Georgia. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  57. ^ a b Nagourney, Adam; Lovett, Ian; Pérez-Peña, Richard (December 2, 2015). "San Bernardino Shooting Kills at Least 14; Two Suspects Are Dead". nytimes.com. New York City, New York. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  58. ^ a b "San Bernardino shooting live updates: No sign attackers are part of a terrorist network, FBI chief says". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  59. ^ Ho, Vivian; Lyons, Jenna; Williams, Kale (December 4, 2015). "Killing by S.F. police sets off public debate". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  60. ^ "John Anthony Gonzalez 11168". fatalencounters.org. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  61. ^ Marantos, Jeanette (7 December 2015). "John Anthony Gonzalez, 18". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
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