Fresno police on Wednesday released critical incident video from a June officer-involved shooting that killed a 42-year-old man after officers said he pointed a handgun at them following more than 20 minutes of attempts to de-escalate the encounter.

The video, released by the Fresno Police Department, includes body-worn camera footage, security camera video and the 911 call that led officers to the home.

According to police, officers responded around 11:30 a.m. on June 5 after a woman called 911 to report that her 42-year-old son, Ricardo Leon, was trespassing on her property near 11th Street and Burns Avenue and refusing to leave.

The caller told dispatchers she was in the process of seeking a restraining order against Leon, but the paperwork had not yet been submitted.

Before officers arrived, security camera footage from the home showed Leon walking through the backyard while holding a firearm in his right hand. Police said officers were unaware he was armed until they contacted him.

After speaking with Leon’s mother at the front door, officers were directed to the backyard, where they found Leon. Police said Leon told the officers to go away before one officer saw him holding a silver handgun and ordered him to drop the weapon.

Police Said They Tried to De-Escalate

According to police, officers spent about seven minutes repeatedly ordering Leon to drop the gun before telling him they were backing away in an effort to de-escalate the situation.

Police said officers continued trying to de-escalate the encounter for another 15 minutes while repeatedly encouraging Leon to surrender peacefully.

At 12:13 p.m., police said Leon raised his right arm while holding the handgun in the direction of the officers. One officer fired a single rifle round. Police said Leon then raised his arm toward the officers a second time while still holding the handgun, prompting the same officer and another officer to fire their rifles.

Police said Leon then fired two rounds in an unknown direction.

Once officers determined it was safe, they approached Leon and provided medical aid. Emergency medical personnel responded, and Leon was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing. The department said there will be no additional comment beyond the release of the video. The investigation’s findings will be submitted to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the department’s Internal Affairs unit and the Office of Independent Review.

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