CrimeWatch

OAKLAND (BCN) ― On Friday, Oakland police defended their policies and actions in the wake of criticism by some community members about two incidents in the last week in which officers shot and killed suspects who allegedly were brandishing weapons.

Speaking at a news conference at police headquarters, police spokesman Roland Holmgren said, "We have information we want to be out because we want to be as transparent as possible since we have nothing to hide."

Deputy Chief Jeffrey Israel said, "Pointing a firearm at anyone is a crime and when someone points a gun at police officers it's reasonable that their life or the lives of third parties are in danger."

The most recent incident occurred at noon on Wednesday and has sparked the loudest outcry.

Lt. Ersie Joyner, head of the department's homicide unit, said three officers assigned to the gang unit who were on routine patrol shot and killed 15-year-old Jose Luis Buenrostro near the intersection of 79th Avenue and Rudsdale Street after they say he pointed a sawed-off rifle at them.

Some witnesses alleged that Buenrostro, a sophomore at Oakland Aviation High School, had his hands in the air when he was shot, but Joyner said he doesn't have any information about that and said witnesses should contact police.

Joyner said the other incident occurred at 6:49 p.m. on March 14 when police shot and killed 71-year-old Casper Banjo near the Eastmont Mall police substation on 73rd Avenue because they say he was pointing what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun at him.

Joyner said it turned out that Joyner was only carrying a replica gun, but he said it looked real.

Attempting to prove the point, Holmgren displayed what appeared to be three guns and asked reporters if they could identify which were real and which were fake.

Holmgren said they all were fake but "it's extremely hard to see the difference" when officers have to make a life-or-death decision about shooting at a suspect.

Joyner officers asked Banjo "countless times" to drop what appeared to be a weapon and fired only after he pointed the object at them.

Joyner said when the gang officers spotted Buenrostro they noticed that he was armed with some type of firearm and then he pulled it out from his right pants leg and pointed it at them.

He said the three officers fired multiple shots at Buenrostro but declined to be more specific because the case is still under investigation.

Joyner said Buenrostro had been arrested and police had "credible information" that he was affiliated with a Hispanic gang.

Holmgren displayed a photograph of what he said was the sawed-off rifle that Buenrostro was carrying and said the barrel had been cut off to make it easier to conceal.

Some police critics wonder why officers don't shoot suspects in the arm or leg to avoid killing them, but Holmgren said officers are trained to aim for the biggest part of the body, which is the center mass, in order to immediately stop the threat.

Holmgren said suspects who are shot in the hand could flee or could shoot at police or innocent bystanders.

Holmgren acknowledged that many people who live in the neighborhood where Buenrostro was shot and killed are angry at the Oakland Police Department, but he said he thinks most Oakland residents still strongly support the department.

Referring to Buenrostro's family, Joyner said, "We owe them an explanation" about what happened and he said the family will meet with police on Saturday.

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