Sheriff's Office Releases Video Of Fatal Danville Police Shooting

DANVILLE, CA — The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office released graphic video Wednesday of Deputy Andrew Hall fatally shooting Tyrell Wilson in the middle of a Danville intersection in March — hours after news broke that Hall was expected to face charges in the death of another man he fatally shot while on the job in Danville.

Video showed Wilson, a 32-year-old unhoused Black man, pull a knife on Hall, who appears to be white, in the moments before the deputy fatally shot him. The incident occurred March 11 after police received several calls from drivers regarding an individual throwing rocks off the Sycamore Valley Road overpass. Hall was assigned to the Danville Police Department at the time of the shooting.

Discretion advised: This post includes details that may be disturbing to some readers.

Body camera footage showed Hall began to approach Wilson, who was apparently jaywalking at the intersection of Sycamore Valley Road and Camino Ramon just east of the freeway.

"Hey, buddy, come here for me real quick," Hall can be heard saying.

Wilson repeatedly declined and continued walking into the intersection, the video showed. Hall approached Wilson and radioed for cover as he continued into the intersection.

Hall identified himself at Wilson's request. As Hall got closer, Wilson backed up and pulled out a knife.

"Don't f--- touch me. ... Touch me and see what's up," Wilson can be heard saying.

Hall repeatedly told Wilson to drop the knife as the deputy pulled out his gun and pointed it at Wilson.

"Kill me," Wilson said before taking two to three steps toward the deputy.

Hall began to back up and fired once. He then radioed that shots had been fired and continued to stand over Wilson with his gun drawn until backup arrived, the video showed.

Hall was placed on paid leave amid an investigation into the shooting, per sheriff's office policy. Wilson was later found with rocks in his jacket pocket, the sheriff's office said.

"[Wilson] did threaten Officer Hall," Sheriff David Livingston said. "And he did start advancing toward Officer Hall in the middle of a major intersection. Officers are forced to make split second decisions to protect themselves and the public, and that's what happened here."

John Burris, a civil rights attorney representing Wilson's family in a lawsuit against Hall, the town and its police chief, Allan Shields, saw things differently. The video was proof of a "cold murder. Wilson never had a chance," he said in a statement.

Hall did not try to deescalate the situation or provide emergency care after he shot Wilson, Burris said.

"Wilson laid mortally wounded in the street for 25 minutes before paramedics arrived," he said.

The video release came hours after the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office scheduled a 1 p.m. news conference, at which District Attorney Diana Becton announced Hall was charged with voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semi-automatic weapon for fatally shooting Laudemer Arboleda, 33, of Newark in 2018.

Read: Danville Deputy Charged In 2018 Shooting

Wilson's family was pleased to see charges were filed against Hall, but the delay in prosecution "is particularly hurtful because Hall recently shot and killed a homeless man, Tyrell Wilson, under very questionable circumstances," attorney Burris said.

"Wilson could be alive if Hall had been prosecuted earlier," wrote Burris, who also represented Arboleda's mother.

The Wilson family has filed a civil rights lawsuit against Hall, the town of Danville and its police chief, Allan Shields. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Hall has been with the sheriff's office for nearly eight years. In that time, he's been the subject of three investigations for serious use of force.

When Hall was assigned to the Martinez Detention Facility, an inmate accused him in 2014 of ramming him face-first into a door while handcuffed and punching him several times in the face and side, causing the inmate to have his lip reattached. The incident was investigated, and Hall was cleared of wrongdoing.

Livingston told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that Hall would be returned to non-patrol duty at Hall's request, Bay Area News Group reported.

The Danville Town Council said in a statement that it regretted "the two tragic incidents that resulted in the losses of both Laudemer Arboledo and Tyrell Wilson."

Councilmembers will seek to improve emergency responses for people experiencing mental health crises in Danville.

"We continue to support full transparency in all matters related to both incidents," the council wrote. "We understand the importance of trust in the relationship between our community and the police personnel who are here to serve them, and we are committed to creating a safe, equitable and inclusive community for all members of our community."

Anyone with information about this incident may call investigators at 925-313-2600, email tips@so.cccounty.us or leave an anonymous voicemail at 866-846-3592.

Video of the Wilson shooting can be found here. Discretion is advised.

This is a developing story; refresh for updates.

See also:

• Danville Police Shooting: Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed
• Man Shot By Danville Police Identified
• Danville Officer Shoots Man Who Pulled Knife On Cop
• Danville Police Shooting Questioned By Experts: Report