Downey Police release video from deadly officer-involved shooting

DOWNEY — The Downey Police Department on Monday released body camera footage of a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred over one month ago.

On June 29, officers responded to several calls of a man who was “causing a disturbance in the alley,” making threats, and shooting fireworks towards a neighbor’s home in the 7200 block of Stewart and Gray Road.

In the footage released Monday, 29-year-old Alberto Arenas argues with officers from behind a fence. Though much of the exchange between officers and Arenas was censored for language, Arenas can be heard in the video saying, “I’m going to turn myself in, shut the [censored]. What you gonna do? I don’t give a [censored].”

An officer continues to speak with Arenas, saying, “I don’t want to do that. I just want you to come out here and talk to me.”

The video shows Arenas slam the gate and fence. “Get the [censored] out of here,” he says. “Get out of here [censored]. I’m being for real dog, get the [censored] out of here.”

The racking of a rifle can be heard before Arenas points what appears to be a rifle over the gate. That is when officers fired.

Though life-saving measures were administered, Arenas was declared dead at the scene by the Downey Fire Department. The firearm was later determined to be an airsoft style rifle.

It is unclear how many officers fired and how many times Arenas was hit. The California Department of Justice identified the officers who shot as Officer Robert Ramirez and Sgt. Jason Klevos.

The California Department of Justice is investigating whether the shooting was reasonable and will present its findings to the California Attorney General’s office. According to Acting Chief Scott Loughner, Downey Police is also conducting an internal investigation “to ensure department policies and procedures were followed.”

In a statement at the beginning of the video, Loughner said, “our goal is to share as much information as we can about the incident and our procedures, so that you can better understand what occurred.”