Police responded to a call of a person who was making suicidal statements and walking around with a gun. When officers arrived, they attempted to talk to him. He allegedly tried to pull out a gun from his waistband, and an officer shot him with a less-lethal foam bullet. The man ran from officers while shooting at them. One officer was struck, suffering major injuries, another officer was grazed by a bullet. Police shot and killed the man.
Agency: Bakersfield Police Department
Motive: Erratic behavior (suicide)
Confrontation Type: Mental Health/Welfare Check
Service Call: Yes
Body Camera: Yes
Official Disposition: Pending investigation
Victim Name: Johnathan George Brown
Death Date: December 18, 2020
County: Kern
Geography: Suburban
Gender: Male
Age: Unknown
Race: White
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Yes
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: gun
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: Foot
Washington Post Database ID: 6450