El Cajon Police Shooting Video Released Friday Afternoon; Officers Involved Identified

EL CAJON, CA — Video taken during a fatal police officer-involved shooting of an unarmed black man this week in the East County San Diego city of El Cajon was released Friday afternoon to members of the media.

A witness turned over cellphone video to El Cajon police of the shooting that took the life of Alfred Olango, 38, of El Cajon. Police initially released a still image from the video, but demonstrators have been demanding all week for the full video to be released.

The cellphone video, as well as surveillance video from the drive-through window of a nearby taco shop, was released to media members at a mid-afternoon news conference Friday in El Cajon attended by law enforcement officials from the El Cajon Police Department, San Diego District Attorney's Office and San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

El Cajon Police Chief Jeff Davis said the video was released with the intention of calming the demonstrations and protests that have taken place since the shooting, which took a turn toward violence Thursday night when a crowd of 50 to 75 demonstrators allegedly began stopping vehicles and breaking their windows and throwing bottles and rocks at deputies and officers. A fire was also sparked in shrubbery near a business, Davis said.

Unlawful assembly was declared, pepper balls were deployed and seven arrests were made, including one person on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly striking a San Diego police officer in the head with a brick, the chief said.

VIDEO OF ALFRED OLANGO SHOOTING:

Davis also identified the officers involved in the shooting. Richard Gonsalves was the one who fatally shot Olango, and Josh McDaniel was the one who deployed his Taser, the police chief said. The officers, who each have more than 21 years in law enforcement, are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the fatal incident.

Businesses in the downtown area of El Cajon were advised by city officials to close following the release of the video and to remain closed through 2 p.m Sunday, 10News reported.

"Businesses are closed, some schools are releasing students early, some school-sponsored sporting events have either been moved or canceled," Davis said. "All of these things played a part in the decision to release the video."

Davis said he and DA Bonnie Dumanis, Sheriff Bill Gore and members of the San Diego County Chiefs’ and Sheriff’s Association spoke during a lengthy conference call Friday morning about whether to release the video.

"From the beginning, our position has been to allow the demonstrations and protests to go forth as long was they were not violent ... we understand the importance of that," Davis said.

" ... For the sake of the well-being of the community, the decision was made to share this video."

Olango was shot just after 2 p.m. Tuesday when an officer responded to a call of a man "not acting like himself." Olango reportedly had his hand in his pants pocket and allegedly did not comply with the officer's orders. Another officer arrived as backup and both officers reportedly attempted to talk to Olango and get him to comply with their orders, Olango paced back and forth, El Cajon police Lt. Rob Ransweiler said.

At one point, Ransweiler said, Olango rapidly drew an object — later determined to be an electronic smoking, or vaping, device — from his front pants pocket, "placed both hands together and extended them rapidly toward the officer taking up what appeared to be a shooting stance."

"At this time, the officer with the electronic control device discharged his weapon," Ransweiler said. "Simultaneously, the officer with the firearm discharged his weapon several times, striking the subject."

Some demonstrators have decried the shooting as racially motivated. Others have said police shot a mentally ill man whom they knew was unarmed.

Olango's mother, Pamela Benge, told reporters Thursday that her son was not mentally ill. Rather, he was having "a mental breakdown," she said. He was struggling with the recent death of a friend, she said.

Olango, originally from Uganda, was a father who worked as a restaurant cook.

During the news conference Friday, DA Dumanis said the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

"We have not formed any conclusion yet," Dumanis told reporters. "There is still information we are waiting to see. We will wait for a thorough investigation to make sure we come to the right results — whatever they may be ... This video evidence is one piece of the evidence that is out there."

Following nearly four days of protests and demonstrations, Davis said their hope is that further gatherings will be peaceful.

"That was the intention of releasing this video," Davis said. "We are emphasizing peace and calm as we move forward."

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates as more information is gathered.

(Image courtesy of El Cajon Police Department)

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