Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton will announce Friday whether or not she is charging former Danville police officer Andrew Hall with crimes relating to Hall shooting and killing Tyrell Wilson in March 2021.
Wilson, a 33-year-old transient with mental health issues, was allegedly throwing rocks from the Sycamore Valley Road overpass in Danville onto Interstate 680 before being contacted by Hall, a Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy on assignment in Danville.
Hall confronted Wilson at the intersection just east of the overpass. As the two approached each other in the middle of the intersection, Wilson held a 4-inch pocket knife, which Hall told him to drop. Bodycam footage showed Wilson take two steps toward Hall, and Hall taking two steps back and firing his gun.
In the video, Wilson clearly said "kill me" twice, either while, or just before, he stepped toward Hall, who shot Wilson in the face. Wilson's family has said he was bipolar and suffered from schizophrenia.
Hall is currently in state prison for six years for the on-duty shooting and killing motorist Laudemer Arboleda in 2018 in downtown Danville as Arboleda tried driving away from a traffic stop.
Hall was convicted in March of assault with a firearm.
The county has paid a total of $9.4 million in settlement money to Wilson's and Arboleda's families, even while Wilson's killing was still being investigated.
Friday's press conference will start at 10 a.m. In the community room at the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, 900 Ward St., in Martinez. The entrance to the community room is on Court Street.
Comments
Registered user
San Ramon
on Oct 28, 2022 at 12:04 am
Registered user
on Oct 28, 2022 at 12:04 am
March 27, 2022, San Jose Mercury News:
Contra Costa DA won’t charge imprisoned ex-deputy for 2021 killing of Tyrell Wilson. District Attorney Diana Becton has decided her office can’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hall broke the law when he fatally shot Wilson, who was holding a knife, during a March 2021 confrontation.
Multiple law enforcement sources told the Mercury News that prosecutors consulted multiple use of force experts who offered differing opinions before reaching a decision. Stop right there.
I wonder if DA Becton was shown the video of a March 3, 2022, case out of San Diego, that showed a female suspect lunge and make contact, stabbing a deputy with a knife. Other law enforcement personnel near the scene opened fire, killing the suspect - who by the way, was about the same distance Hall was from Tyrell Wilson; thereby proving that someone with a knife can close a distance of about ten feet very quickly.
Both tragic cases, but justified under the law.
Registered user
another community
on Oct 29, 2022 at 10:14 am
Registered user
on Oct 29, 2022 at 10:14 am
Fortunately Officer Hall was convicted for his first wrongful police shooting and now has six years to reflect upon it.
Registered user
Walnut Creek
on Oct 29, 2022 at 2:20 pm
Registered user
on Oct 29, 2022 at 2:20 pm
If this incident was in self-defense, the officer should be exonerated.
On the other hand, there was no excuse for the prior incident that he is now serving time for.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Oct 31, 2022 at 10:24 am
Registered user
on Oct 31, 2022 at 10:24 am
@Latrelle and Marlon
The topic on of this conversation has to do with the Tyrell Wilson incident, not the other case. Having said that, what do you think of Becton’s decision not the charge Hall in the shooting death of Wilson? And remember, a car or a knife, can be considered as an assault with a deadly weapon. Bottom line: What’s the difference?
I await you’re appeal, counselors.
Registered user
another community
on Oct 31, 2022 at 11:51 am
Registered user
on Oct 31, 2022 at 11:51 am
DA Becton has come under fire by some Contra Costa County residents as being soft on crime and her decision not to prosecute Officer Hall is merely an appeasement to those mindsets.
Recorded video of the account clearly indicates that this was an execution and while Officer Hall is serving time for his first wrongful police shooting, he might consider seeking future employment in the Russian Army.
They could use him in the Ukraine.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Oct 31, 2022 at 10:34 pm
Registered user
on Oct 31, 2022 at 10:34 pm
@ Kemp
Execution? How so? What would you do if somebody pulled a knife on you, Kemp? Stand there? The police are duty bound to confront those kinds of situations. In other words, it’s what they are trained to do; which is exactly what DA Becton pointed out in this case. Use of force experts all agreed that Hall was well within department policy to use lethal force.
You offer no solutions, other than to blame DA Becton for appeasing a crowd you apparently don’t run with. Justice was served.