During a Costco fight in Corona in 2019, off-duty LAPD Officer Salvador Sanchez shot and killed Kenneth French and wounded his parents. Prosecutors claimed that Sanchez panicked, and made up a story to avoid charges in the voluntary manslaughter trial in Indio on December 6, 2023.
Prosecutor Accuses Costco Shooter of Fabricating a False Narrative After Fatal Altercation
In his closing comments, Deputy State Attorney General Mike Murphy highlighted Sanchez’s immediate and two-month-later statements. Sanchez lied to officials, saying he was shot in the head, Kenneth was armed, and he was in danger, Murphy said. Murphy claimed Sanchez’s unreasonable worries and misperceptions caused these false beliefs.
Sanchez stated that Kenneth, who had an intellectual handicap, knocked him out while holding his 20-month-old baby and was armed. Sanchez fired 10 shots from his service pistol, killing Kenneth and wounding his parents.
Murphy believed Sanchez should have assessed the circumstances and determined that the Frenches were not a threat. Murphy said that a normal individual would not have shot 10 bullets in a Costco, killing and injuring.
READ ALSO: Lawyers argue over deadly Corona Costco shooting by off-duty officer — was it justified?
Accuses Off-Duty Officer of Fabricating False Narrative After Fatal Costco Altercation
Sanchez’s remarks and actions after the shooting revealed clear thinking, but Murphy said they contradicted his account of being knocked unconscious. Sanchez was not in uniform, and Murphy said he should not have fired within seconds of being hit.
Sanchez’s defense attorney, Michael Schwartz, said after two months everyone knew Kenneth was unarmed. He said Sanchez’s claims were recall, not fabrication. Schwartz said Murphy’s desire for Sanchez to take additional time to examine the situation was excessive because there wasn’t time to confirm the threat.
Sanchez’s trial will decide his guilt for voluntary manslaughter and two firearm assaults. Sanchez denied all charges. The instance raised questions about panic-induced actions and law enforcement assessment.
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