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Authorities said suspect has ‘‘threatened both victims and law enforcement’’
Police have released video of a shooting in the Santa Clara, California, area earlier this month that left a man dead and two officers wounded after a pursuit with a suspect in a stolen vehicle.
The video shows the suspected car thief run from the intersection of Scotland and Hicks avenues after the pursuit, apparently surrendering, but immediately begin shooting at two Santa Clara police officers.
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Police released the footage on Thursday and new information that they say indicate the shooting was justified and that the two officers were targeted because they were responding to a call about a stolen vehicle.
“At no time was the person on the street or property threatening either victims or law enforcement,” authorities said in a statement.
In a news conference on Wednesday evening, the Santa Clara police chief, Eddie Garcia, said “at no time” did the officers consider firing on the suspect.
“No, they did not have to shoot this person,” he said. “They did, in fact, have to physically stop this person, defend themselves and protect other citizens in the area.”
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Authorities said the 45-year-old suspect who died, Yusuf Bey IV, of Oakland, shot the two officers on 2 April.
He also fired at three other people but no one was hit.
Bey’s sister, LaCora Bey-Rishaw, said police killed him in cold blood.
“It was a travesty of justice,” she said. “What they did is wrong and I think everyone knows it. They locked up a man and literally took his life.”
Bey is married to Larry Bey IV, a rapper known as Black Thought. He is best known for performing with the group The Roots. The California rapper was arrested in 2011 on suspicion of selling drugs and battery on a police officer.
Bey was wanted on suspicion of eluding police, trespassing and probation violations.