They also claim they were backing away from Sanchez when the shooting occurred. The French family says they pleaded with Sanchez not to shoot, telling the officer that their son, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was largely non-verbal, had mental health issues. Sanchez's attorney has insisted that his client briefly lost consciousness after being attacked by Kenneth French and 'had no choice but to use deadly force.' Sanchez responded by announcing that he was a police officer, pulling out a gun and opening fire. Galipo and the French family have conceded that Kenneth French shoved Sanchez to the ground for unknown reasons. Sanchez was also at the sample table, holding his son, officials said. The Frenches were shopping when they approached a food-sample table with sausages. Kevin French, the decedent's younger brother, said Kenneth was 'just a loving, caring human being who never hurt anyone.'Ĭorona police said Kenneth French attacked Sanchez without provocation inside the store on June 14, and that Sanchez was holding his year-old son at the time. Neighbors Remember Santee Plane Crash on First Anniversary In addition, Sanchez's training in the use of deadly force was 'totally inadequate and inappropriate,' the suit alleges. 'If Salvador Sanchez were not a police officer, then he would not have been authorized to carry a concealed weapon in his waistband inside of the Costco,' according to the complaint. Officer Salvador Sanchez is named as a co-defendant in the suit, which states that the gun he used to shoot French was issued to him by the Los Angeles Police Department. Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the City Attorney's Office, said his office will review the complaint, but he had no further comment. 'If it was anyone but a police officer who went into a Costco and fired 10 shots (and killed somebody), they would've been arrested and charged with murder,' said Dale Galipo, an attorney for the French family. The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, filed by Russell and Paola French, the father and mother of Kenneth French, alleges battery, negligence, civil rights violations and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. When Salzman told his client about the grand jury decision, both men criedĪttorney Dale Galipo told CNN affiliate KTLA the French family is “very disappointed and hurt, quite frankly.” They will hold a news conference Thursday.The parents of a 32-year-old developmentally disabled man who was fatally shot by an off-duty police officer inside the Costco store in Corona sued the city of Los Angeles and the officer Wednesday. Salzman said Salvador is gratified the grand jury felt the same way when it rendered its decision Tuesday. (Sanchez) was protecting his son, he thought he had been shot and felt like he had no other option.” “Today is quite a victory for Sal,” Ira Salzman said. Salvador’s attorney said it appears the family will file a civil suit but they were happy there would be no criminal charges. “I am not condoning this shooting,” Hestrin said, but indicated that he would abide by the grand jury’s decision. Hestrin notes that French’s parents were uncooperative during the investigation and were heard from for the first time during the grand jury hearing. At least two people can be seen in a scuffle and both drop to the ground. Hestrin showed surveillance video of the deadly encounter, which is somewhat difficult to discern, as the perspective is from across the warehouse store. Four seconds passed between the assault and the beginning of the shooting, DelGiudice added. Sanchez was shopping with his family on June 14 and holding his young child when the brief incident began.įrench, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was unarmed.įrench was hit three times in the back, and once in the shoulder, said Joe DelGiudice, chief of investigations for the district attorney’s office.įrench’s parents, Russell and Paola French, were also wounded. Kenneth French, described by a cousin as non-verbal, is believed to have struck Sanchez, who then fired 10 shots. California prosecutors won’t file charges against an off-duty officer who fatally shot a man inside a Costco store in Corona three months ago.įollowing a grand jury decision that charges are not warranted, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said he will not file criminal charges against Salvador Sanchez, an off-duty Los Angeles police officer. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.ĬORONA, Calif.

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Costco corona shooting update