Police Cleared in Fatal Shooting of San Clemente Hairdresser

Two Newport Beach Police officers were justified when they shot and killed a 22-year-old mentally ill man from San Clemente, the Orange County District’s Office concluded this week.

Gerrit Vos, a San Clemente hairdresser, died when officers shot him during a confrontation outside a 7-Eleven convenience store May 29.

Vos, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, allegedly stormed into the 7-Eleven on the 1400 block of Superior Avenue screaming paranoid rants and terrifying customers and two clerks, according to witnesses.

One clerk, told district attorney investigators that Vos approached a customer, shouting, “Who is going to kill me?”

One of the clerks called 911, and the responding officer called for backup when he saw that Vos, could not be subdued, according to investigators’ interviews with the officers at the scene. Patrol units swarmed the convenience store in a V-formation around the front door.

According to district attorney investigators, Vos then ran out the front door with a large metal hook raised above his head as he charged the officers. According to a report issued by the district attorney’s office this week, one officer fired a nonlethal round at Vos, but it did not slow him down. That’s when the officers opened fire on Vos, who crumpled after being shot four times.

The shooting was justified, concluded the district attorney.

As reported by the Daily Pilot, Vos’ parents disagree. They believe police used excessive force and that their son could have been subdued with nonlethal means. They are suing the city for $50 million, according to the newspaper.