Crime & Safety

Davis Officer-Involved Shooting: Body-Worn Camera Video Released

A man was fatally shot by Davis police officers who responded to a call from the man's mother saying he was threatening to harm her.

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DAVIS, CA — The Davis Police Department has released body-worn camera footage and audio recordings of the 911 call and radio dispatch from a fatal officer-involved shooting Dec. 19. Davis PD has also identified the three officers who discharged their weapons in the shooting at 435 Avocet Ave.

Christopher Gray, 29, was fatally shot as Davis police officers responded to a 911 call from his mother, 62-year-old Carol Gray, Davis PD said Thursday in a news release. Also released by Davis PD was a log of calls received from the residence dating back nearly a decade, to February 2009.

In the Dec. 19 recording, a dispatcher tells officers a call was received hours earlier, at 7:52 p.m. Dec. 18 from the same residence.

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At 3:41 a.m. Dec. 19, Carol Gray is heard in a 911 call to police saying that her son was threatening to harm her. It was the last time she would be heard alive.

According to Davis police, officers arrived at the two-story home on Avocet Avenue in the Northstar neighborhood at 3:48 a.m.

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Through the front window, officers saw a person lying under a sheet in the residence. The person was later identified by the Yolo County Coroner's Office as Carol Gray.

According to body-worn camera footage, Carol may have had a slight pulse when officers arrived on scene. Officers tried but were not able to resuscitate her, the footage shows.

As officers arrived on scene, they also saw a man, later confirmed to be Christopher Gray, walking inside the home. The footage shows Christopher holding knives. The officers ordered him to drop the knives but he did not, the footage shows.

One of the officers tried using a Taser on Christopher but that was not effective, at which point gunshots are audible.

Body-worn camera footage shows Christopher lying on the front porch as officers try to resuscitate him.

According to Davis police, "officers made entry into the residence and, within minutes, shot Christopher Gray after he advanced at them with a knife."

"Despite efforts by officers and responding emergency medical personnel to save both Carol and Christopher, they both died at the scene," Davis police officials said.

Carol's death is being investigated as a homicide, according to Davis PD.

Christopher was fatally shot by officers.

Five officers were at the scene, three of whom discharged their weapons:

  • Davis police Cpl. Alex Torres, who has 7.5 law enforcement experience;
  • Davis police Officer Ben Adams, who has 15.5 years of law enforcement experience; and
  • Davis police Officer Francisco Talavera, who has 14.5 years of law enforcement experience.

"The officers involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave following the incident, but have since returned to regular duty," Davis police officials said Thursday.

Police also noted that one of the officers involved was injured; the officer was treated by medical personnel and released with a finger splint.

A link to the videos and recordings can be accessed via the Davis Police Department's website.

The body-worn camera footage, 911 call and dispatch recordings can also be downloaded from the links posted below. Viewer discretion is advised.

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