Death of Mario Gonzalez
| Part of 2020–2021 United States racial unrest | |
 Location of the incident in Alameda. | |
| Date | April 19, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:45 a.m.[1] |
| Location | Alameda, California, U.S. |
| Deaths | Mario Gonzalez |
| Under investigation | |
On April 19, 2021, Mario Gonzalez, a 26-year-old Latino man was killed by the Alameda Police Department.[2][3] In their initial report of the incident, the department reported that Gonzalez died after a “scuffle” and “physical altercation” resulting in a “medical emergency.”[4] In body cam footage released on April 27, Gonzalez could be seen being pinned to the ground for more than five minutes after refusing to provide identification, eventually becoming unresponsive.[5][6][7] He died in police custody.[8]
People involved[change | change source]
Mario Gonzalez[change | change source]
Mario Gonzalez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mario Arenales Gonzalez December 24, 1994 [source?] |
| Died | April 19, 2021 (aged 26) |
| Nationality | American |
Mario Gonzalez (December 24,[source?] 1994 – April 19, 2021) was a 26-year-old man from Oakland, California.[9] He was a father and was the primary caretaker of his mother and brother, who has autism.[10][11]
Officers[change | change source]
The officers involved with Gonzalez' death were identified as Eric McKinley, who has been on the force for three years, Cameron Leahy, who has been on the force for three years, and James Fisher, who has been on the force for 10 years. The three men have been placed on paid administrative leave.[12]
Incident[change | change source]
An officer approaches Gonzalez at a park after police said they were responding to reports of a man who was believed to be intoxicated and suspected of theft.[13] Gonzalez was in the park with two baskets. Officials asked him to produce his name and identification; Gonzalez does not produce an ID, and an officer states, "Please put your hand behind your back ... please stop resisting us."[13] The officers push Gonzalez into the ground into wood chips, placing a knee on his back and leaving it there for four minutes as an out-of-breath Gonzalez says, "I didn't do nothing." and “Please don’t do this.”[14][13] Gonzalez loses consciousness, at which point the officers rolled him over and perform CPR. He was pronounced dead.[13]
Investigation[change | change source]
Alameda city officials launched an independent investigation into Gonzalez' death.[15]
Reactions[change | change source]
Family[change | change source]
Gonzalez' brother stated, "Everything we saw in that video was unnecessary and unprofessional. The police killed my brother in the same manner that they killed George Floyd."[16] Julia Sherwin, a lawyer representing the Gonzalez family, stated, "His death was completely avoidable and unnecessary. Drunk guy in a park doesn't equal a capital sentence."[17]
Institutions[change | change source]
CURYJ Executive Director George Galvis stated, “We have seen this play out time and time again. Police come up with a false narrative until footage is revealed and the truth comes out. They did this to 13-year-old Adam Toledo, and they would have done it to George Floyd if there wasn’t community recording.”[4]
Public figures[change | change source]
Alameda mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft stated, “I’m just heartsick. This is a young man. This shouldn't have happened."[18]
On Twitter, former-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro wrote, "Police in Alameda, CA wrote in a report that Mario Gonzalez was violent before his arrest and died in the hospital after a 'medical emergency.' Body cam footage shows he was calm and peaceful. He died on-site after they knelt on his back for 5 minutes."[19]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Family: Mario Gonzalez Died in Police Custody in 'Same Manner They Killed George Floyd'". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Wright, Will. "California Man Dies After Officers Pin Him to Ground for 5 Minutes". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Ruiz-Grossman, Sarah. "Video Shows Police Kneeled On Mario Gonzalez's Back For 5 Minutes Before He Died". Huff Post. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Greene, Jason; Salonga, Robert. "'Our family needs answers': Relatives call for swift transparency in Oakland man's death during arrest by Alameda police". East Bay Times. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Alameda Police Bodycam Video Shows Struggle That Led To Mario Gonzalez's In-Custody Death". CBS SF Bay Area. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Debolt, David. "Alameda releases video showing police pin Mario Gonzalez to the ground before his death". Mercury News. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Fernandez, Lisa; Lee, Henry. "Body cam video shows Alameda officer kneeling on Mario Gonzalez before death". KTVU. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Man's Family Demands Answers From Alameda Police After He Dies In Custody". CBS SF Bay Area.
- ↑ Hernández, Lauren; Mishanec, Nora. "Family of man who died in Alameda police custody says he had no known medical conditions". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Rahman, Khaleda. "Who Is Mario Gonzalez? Bodycam Shows Police Kneeling on Man Before His Death". Newsweek. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Gary, Jesse; Lee, Amber. "Vigil held for father, caretaker who died of 'medical emergency' in Alameda police custody". KTVU. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Bodycam video shows moments leading to Mario Gonzalez's death while in Alameda police custody". KRON 4. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Aaro, David. "California police scrutinized over Mario Gonzalez's death, bodycam footage released". Fox News. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Feldman, Kate. "California man died after police kneeled on his back for five minutes; officers claimed 'struggle'". New York Daily News. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Hernández, Lauren. "Alameda launches independent probe into police custody death of Mario Gonzalez". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Green, Matthew. "City of Alameda Releases Police Body Cam Footage of Mario Gonzalez's Death". KQED. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Mastrangelo, Dominick. "Man dies after being pinned to ground by California officers during arrest". The Hill. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Burke, Minyvonne. "Officials ask for patience as calls for answers in police custody death intensify". NBC News. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Statement from Julian Castro". Julian Castro on Twitter. Retrieved 28 April 2021.