Jamaica Hampton (2019)
Overview
On December 7, 2019, San Francisco California Police Department Officers Sterling Hayes and Christopher Flores were responding to a report of a burglary of an occupied home when they approached Hampton, who they believed matched the description of the suspect.[1]
As Hayes was exiting the police vehicle, video shows Hampton charging Hayes and beating him with a vodka bottle. Flores engaged with Hampton, but was also attacked with the bottle.[2]
Flores moved away, and Hampton chased him up the street. Hayes deployed pepper spray, to no effect.[2]
Body-worn camera footage from Hayes and surveillance footage from a nearby business show Hayes moving to head off the running Hampton. Hampton turned toward Hayes, who fired his service weapon. Flores fired once when Hampton was down on the street and attempting to get up.[3]
Officers immediately rendered aid to Hampton.[2]
Minutes after the shooting, an order was given over the radio for all officers to turn off their body-worn cameras.[4]
On December 17, 2019, Hampton was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a peace officer.[2]
On January 24, 2020, the District Attorney withdrew the charges against Hampton "without prejudice", meaning they could be refiled later. A spokesman said the case was set aside to avoid conflicts between the investigations into Hampton and Flores.[5]
On December 6, 2020, a grand jury indicted Flores and Hampton.[6]
Flores was charged with assault with a semi-automatic firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm, and assault by a public officer, with two charging enhancements of personal use of a firearm during a felony.[7]
Hampton was charged with four counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon, a felony charge for battery on a peace officer, and two felony counts of resisting arrest.[7]
On April 19, 2021, a judge dropped the criminal charges against Hampton, "based on a technical deficiency around establishing Mr. Hampton’s identification."[7]
On May 11, 2023, the District Attorney announced plans to dismiss the charges against Flores, arguing that they could not "prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Flores did not act in reasonable self-defense". The DA noted that the previous DA had not presented two witness statements that were favorable to Flores to the original grand jury.[8]
On May 19, 2023, the District Attorney dismissed the charges against Flores.[9]
Video
- News report with body-worn camera footage
- More complete body-worn camera footage and surveillance video
- Includes original 911 calls
Officers Involved
Official Reports
Additional Sources
References
- ↑ J.K. Dineen, SF police critically wound man in Mission District after alleged assault, San Francisco Chronicle, 2019-12-07
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Joe Vazquez, Body Cam Video Shows San Francisco Police Shooting Man After Glass Bottle Attack, KPIX, 2019-12-17
- ↑ Julian Mark, SFPD officer who shot Jamaica Hampton became a training officer — despite excessive force charges, Mission Local, 2019-12-18
- ↑ WARNING: Graphic footage of Dec. 7 Officer Involved Shooting in the Mission District., Mission Local, 2019-12-18
- ↑ Peter Fimrite, Boudin, SF’s DA, withdraws charges against man who allegedly attacked cop, San Francisco Chronicle, 2020-01-25
- ↑ Megan Cassidy, Grand jury indicts SFPD officer in connection with 2019 shooting, San Francisco Chronicle, 2020-12-07
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Megan Cassidy, Judge dismisses criminal charges against man shot by SFPD, San Francisco Chronicle, 2021-04-19
- ↑ Christina Macintosh, DA Jenkins drops charges against officer who shot Jamaica Hampton, Mission Local, 2023-05-11
- ↑ Kiley Russell, Da Dismisses Charges Against Officer Who Shot, Wounded 2019 Burglary Suspect, sfgate, 2023-05-19
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