Gerrard Kaonga
A kidnapping was brought to a horrific end as police mistakenly shot the teenager they were meant to be saving.
On September 27 2022 in California police were made aware of 15-year-old Savannah Graziano who was believed to have been kidnapped by her father 45-year-old Anthony John Graziano.
The father was also a suspect in the shooting and killing of Savannah’s mother Tracy Martinez the day before.
As a car chase ensued, deputies were able to bring the car chase to a standstill on the side of a freeway in Hesperia, 80 miles east of Los Angeles.
Advert
Police have said during the chase, someone within the car had fired back at the police officers.
New helicopter footage from the incident has given greater insight into what occurred for both Anthony and Savannah to be shot and killed.
The footage showed that as a firefight unfolded between police and John Graziano, Savannah exited the vehicle with her hands held high and then proceeded to get on the ground.
She then is seen getting up and walking slowly towards police who are behind a police vehicle, before she is shot by officers.
She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
At the time, San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus held a press conference and claimed that Savannah ran towards officers while wearing tactical gear before she was shot.
While it was later confirmed Savannah was unarmed, she was in fact wearing tactical gear and a helmet.
“The suspect vehicle comes to rest at which a subject exits the passenger side of the vehicle wearing tactical gear,” he said in a press conference.
"That subject starts to run towards Sheriff's deputies and during the gunfire goes down.
"Sheriff's deputies immediately go to clear the vehicle, make it safe and render medical aid.”
Audio footage released alongside the new aerial footage reveal that officers had actually instructed Savannah to come towards officers after exiting the vehicle.
The audio was from a deputy’s belt recorder and is not broadcast over the police radio.
“Passenger, get out! Passenger, get out,” a deputy said during the incident.
Bullets being shot can also be heard while he instructs her.
“Come here. Come to me, come to me,” he continued.
“Come, come, come, come. Walk, walk, walk, walk.
“Hey, Stop! Stop shooting her. He’s in the car. Stop,”
UNILAD has contacted the San Bernardino county sheriff’s department for a comment.