San Francisco police officer who fatally shot unarmed carjacking suspect charged with manslaughter News
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San Francisco police officer who fatally shot unarmed carjacking suspect charged with manslaughter

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced Monday that the District Attorney’s Office filed homicide charges against Chris Samayoa, a former rookie San Francisco police officer who was on his fourth day on the job when he fatally shot Keita O’Neil, an unarmed carjacking suspect, in 2017.

On December 1, 2017, Samayoa and his training officer responded to a report of carjacking and robbery. This eventually led to a car chase, after which Samayoa shot O’Neil. O’Neil was unarmed and was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. After a three-month investigation, Samayoa was fired from his position.

Although the homicide took place before Boudin assumed office in January, the case was under investigation and led to a warrant for Samayoa’s arrest on November 21. On Monday, the District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Samayoa for voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, assault by a police officer and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence.

This is believed to be the first homicide prosecution against a law enforcement officer in San Francisco history. On the charges, Boudin stated: “For too long, we have seen the failures of our legal system to hold police accountable for the violence committed against the members of the public they are entrusted to keep safe. In my administration, police officers are not above the law.”