Listen to 911 Tape: Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting Was Knocked Out

By AUTUMN JOHNSON

Police officials say an officer who fired the shots that killed a burglary suspect in Pleasanton on Sunday was knocked unconscious during a violent physical altercation with the suspect prior to the shooting.

Officer Daniel Kunkel, an 8-year veteran officer, was found on the ground and unresponsive behind Specialty Sales Classics located at 4321 First Street in Pleasanton on July 5, according to a statement released by police.

Officers who had responded to the car dealership around 2 a.m. were investigating a report of a burglar alarm when they found 19-year-old John Deming Jr. in front of the dealership. Deming, a San Jose resident, was later identified as the son of an Oakdale reserve police officer.

“When officers first arrived on First Street for the burglar alarm they could see Deming inside the business as the front of the car dealership is all glass and completely lit for viewing of the cars,” Lieutenant Jeffery Bretzing said in the statement. “While inside, Deming threw a large floor jack weighing more than 50 pounds through a glass window, which landed more than ten feet away on the sidewalk near the officers. As Deming stood in the threshold of the business, a less-lethal bean bag round was deployed at him, but missed.”

Bretzing said Deming continued to refuse orders to exit the business as he jumped from the tops of many cars inside the dealership while screaming.

According to Bretzing, Deming then jumped off of the cars and retreated into a part of the business where he could no longer be seen through the front glass windows. The sergeant on-scene requested allied agency assistance and the Livermore Police Department responded with personnel to assist.

Bretzing said, “Officers, along with a police service dog, entered the business announcing their entry and demanding that Deming cooperate. As the officers entered the main auto showroom area they found Deming sitting on top of a car. Several orders were given to Deming and he failed to comply. Several less-lethal deployments were made, all of which were ineffective. As Deming ran away from the officers toward the rear of the business, the police service dog was released in an attempt to prevent his escape. Before the dog could stop him, Deming exited the business through a broken window in the rear, believed to be his original point of entry.”

Bretzing said Deming escaped by running through the broken window and past Kunkel, who had been posted to the rear of the business. Deming reportedly ignored Kunkel’s orders to stop and Kunkel deployed his Taser, hitting Deming in the back.

Bretzing says the Taser was ineffective and the officer chased Deming.

“The officer began to coordinate a containment perimeter with the other officers via his police radio when Deming suddenly turned and aggressively charged at him,” Bretzing said. “Deming kicked Officer Kunkel in the stomach and began punching him in the head knocking him to the ground. Deming climbed on top of the officer and continued to repeatedly strike him in the face and head.”

Bretzing said Kunkel began to feel as if he was going to lose consciousness after sustaining the multiple blows to his head.

“In a last effort to stop the attack, Officer Kunkel used his Taser in drive-stun mode, connecting with Deming,” Bretzing said. “As the Taser deployment once again failed to stop Deming’s attack, Officer Kunkel, in fear for his life, drew his pistol from his holster and fired one round into Deming’s torso area. Deming continued to strike the officer who then fired two additional rounds, striking Deming at least once in the face.”

Bretzing said officers heard the shots and ran to the area, discovering Deming on the ground with Kunkel lying unresponsive next to him.

“Deming continued to resist the officers as they handcuffed him, after which they provided him medical aid,” Bretzing commented. “Officer’s tending to the injured officer were able to provide aid to him as he became responsive several seconds later.”

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• Burglary Suspect Fatally Shot by Pleasanton Police Was San Jose Man
• Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting Closes Portions of First Street in Pleasanton

Bretzing says Deming was transported by the first ambulance that arrived and taken directly to Eden Trauma Center where he later succumbed to his gunshot wounds. The injured officer was taken in a second ambulance to Valley Care Medical Center in Pleasanton and later released.

“He is still under the care of his doctor as they work to determine the extent of his injuries,” Bretzing said. “Officer Kunkel remains on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.”

Bretzing said the surveillance video from the business is being reviewed as part of the investigation.

“The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is also conducting a parallel investigation, which is normal protocol in an officer involved shooting,” Bretzing said. “The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office sent a large team of Crime Scene Investigators with advanced equipment to assist in processing the multiple scene locations in and around the auto dealership.”

This is the first officer-involved shooting in ten years, according to Bretzing. Kunkel was an officer at the Antioch Police Department before coming to Pleasanton.

Businesses in the surrounding area were shut down on Sunday due to the investigation but reopened for business on Monday.

Well known attorney Mark Geragos, who is representing Deming’s family, expressed “grave concerns” earlier today about the police practices that led to the shooting.

Officers searched Deming’s home on Monday. Oakdale reserve police Officer John Deming Sr., said in a statement, “My son Johnathon has always been a kind, loving, well-mannered and talented young man who respected others, loved music and had a boundless thirst for life.”

Photo contributed.

Map courtesy Google maps. Audio embed courtesy Mercury News