Mario Gonzalez Family Demands Murder Charges For Officers

ALAMEDA, CA — The family of Mario Gonzalez, who died in police custody in April, said Wednesday that they want the officers involved in his death to face murder charges.

A recently released Alameda County autopsy report ruled Gonzalez’s death a homicide. Police body cam footage showed Gonzalez, 26, of Oakland, being restrained for several minutes by officers outside Oak Street in Alameda, before he went unconscious. The autopsy report said that the restraint was one of the factors that contributed to his death.

Gonzalez’s family has issued a statement demanding that “these officers be fired immediately and that District Attorney O’Malley bring criminal charges against all those involved in his murder.” The four officers involved are currently on administrative leave until an investigation is complete, according to ABC7 San Francisco. They are also forbidden from carrying a badge, police ID, or gun as an officer, according to a Bay City News report.

Attorneys for Gonzalez’s mother said in a statement that Gonzalez was sitting peacefully in an Alameda Park on April 19 when police detained him without cause, according to a CBSSF report. Body cam footage shows an officer asking Gonzalez for identification. The officer said police would have to detain him if he did not comply. Police allege that Gonzalez was under the influence of drugs, and may have been involved in a theft.

Attorneys for Gonzalez’s mother also said in a statement that the autopsy was biased, and used subjective words like “resist” and “violent,” when footage shows that Gonzalez was struggling for his life. Attorney Adante Pointer said his firm will hire an expert to review the autopsy and create an independent report.