A San Diego police officer who shot and killed a man proclaiming “Trump is the devil” in August 2018 was found by a review to have acted in self-defense.
Graphic footage released this week by the San Diego’s District Attorney’s Office shows Officer Corey Pitts pleading with Vaughn Denham to put down a metal chain and comply with lawful orders to lay on the ground.
The officer initially made contact with Denham, 48, after he had already attacked another person with a machete, a local ABC affiliate reported Wednesday.
An attempt to stop Denham with a Taser was unsuccessful. He died of his wounds at a nearby hospital and a toxicology report found phencyclidine (PCP), cannabinoids, and methamphetamine in his blood.
“Based on these circumstances, Pitts fired at Denham in his own defense,” the office’s review concludes. “He, therefore, bears no state criminal liability for his actions.”
Warning: YouTube video includes graphic footage.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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