Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Modesto Officer Charged with Fatally Shooting Unarmed Man
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 years ago on
March 19, 2021

Share

A Central Valley police officer accused of fatally shooting of an unarmed man was fired from his job, arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter Thursday.

Prosecutors announced the charge against Joseph Lamantia after an investigation into Trevor Seever’s death concluded that the officer’s conduct and use of deadly force violated the Modesto Police Department’s policy, procedures and training.

Seever was killed by Lamantia on Dec. 29 after police received a 911 call from a woman saying that her brother told their family he bought a gun and was “walking over here just to watch what happens to us.” At the time, police had circulated a bulletin about Seever after he posted threats against Modesto police officers on social media.

Body Camera Footage Shows Incident

Body camera video shows Lamantia getting out of his car and running towards Seever near a Modesto church. The officer is seen firing several shots at Seever in broad daylight even after the 29-year-old man complied with his commands to put his hands up.

Police later determined Seever did not have a gun.

Seever’s sister later told KCRA-TV the shooting was not justified and that she had called police to de-escalate a tense situation with her brother.

“The death of Trevor Seever is a tragedy for his family, friends, and our community,” interim Police Chief Brandon Gillespie said in a statement. “The men and women of the Modesto Police Department work hard every day to build and maintain positive relationships. I understand Officer Lamantia’s actions have set us back. Our department is dedicated to serving the public and committed to rebuilding any trust we have lost.”

Former Officer Pleads Not Guilty

Lamantia pleaded not guilty during his initial court appearance Thursday. A judge ordered him to remain in custody and set his bail at $100,000.

The voluntary manslaughter count carries a penalty of three to 11 years in state prison if convicted, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s office said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Israel Orders Al Jazeera to Close Its Local Operation, Seizes Some Equipment

DON'T MISS

Pro-Palestinian Protesters at USC Comply With Order to Leave

DON'T MISS

Israel Vows Military Operation ‘in the Very Near Future’ After Latest Hamas Attack

DON'T MISS

After Losing Population in Recent Years, California Grows Again. Is That a Good Thing?

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

DON'T MISS

Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump

DON'T MISS

New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority

DON'T MISS

As Border Debate Shifts Right, Sen. Alex Padilla Emerges as Persistent Counterforce for Immigrants

DON'T MISS

At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign

DON'T MISS

FUSD Trustees Name Misty Her as Interim Superintendent. National Search Yet to Start

UP NEXT

Merced’s Treacherous ‘Tunnel Lane’ Removed from Northbound Highway 99

UP NEXT

US Airstrike Targeting Al-Qaida Leader in Syria Killed a Farmer, American Military Says

UP NEXT

Biden Says ‘Order Must Prevail’ on Campuses, but He Won’t Send National Guard

UP NEXT

Police Dismantle UCLA Tent Camp, Take Pro-Palestinian Protesters Into Custody

UP NEXT

Fresno State’s Randa Jarrar Dragged Out of Event Featuring Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik

UP NEXT

Biden’s Historic Marijuana Shift Is His Latest Election Year Move for Young Voters

UP NEXT

What Marijuana Reclassification Means for the United States

UP NEXT

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Vows to Force a Vote on Ousting House Speaker Mike Johnson

UP NEXT

Protesters Clash at UCLA After Police Arrest 300 Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators in New York City

UP NEXT

Dems: We Will Save GOP Speaker Johnson’s Job if Republicans Try to Oust Him

After Losing Population in Recent Years, California Grows Again. Is That a Good Thing?

21 hours ago

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

2 days ago

Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump

2 days ago

New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority

2 days ago

As Border Debate Shifts Right, Sen. Alex Padilla Emerges as Persistent Counterforce for Immigrants

2 days ago

At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign

2 days ago

FUSD Trustees Name Misty Her as Interim Superintendent. National Search Yet to Start

Local Education /

2 days ago

Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties

2 days ago

Assemblymember Soria Dodges Questions About Defamation Lawsuit

2 days ago

Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault

2 days ago

Israel Orders Al Jazeera to Close Its Local Operation, Seizes Some Equipment

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel ordered the local offices of Qatar’s Al Jazeera satellite news network to close Sunday, escalating a long-ru...

17 hours ago

17 hours ago

Israel Orders Al Jazeera to Close Its Local Operation, Seizes Some Equipment

17 hours ago

Pro-Palestinian Protesters at USC Comply With Order to Leave

Photo of Benjamin Netanyahu
17 hours ago

Israel Vows Military Operation ‘in the Very Near Future’ After Latest Hamas Attack

21 hours ago

After Losing Population in Recent Years, California Grows Again. Is That a Good Thing?

2 days ago

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

2 days ago

Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump

2 days ago

New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority

2 days ago

As Border Debate Shifts Right, Sen. Alex Padilla Emerges as Persistent Counterforce for Immigrants

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend