030 - Suicide by Cop - I Interview the Suspect Shot 3x by Oxnard CA PD

Welcome to the DEC podcast.  I want to warn you that the subject matter in this podcast is for Mature Audiences and there may be some parts that are disturbing and Viewer Discretion is advised.  

 I’m going to be sharing a story with you today that is incredibly compelling.  It’s about a 17-year-old girl and an Oxnard Police Officer – and I’m blessed to know both of them.  In this episode, you’re going to have the privilege of listening to the conversation I had while speaking with one of them.

 On May 3rd, 2019, while in a dirt field behind a business in an commercial district, Oxnard CA Police Officer Timothy Roberts shot a 17-year-old girl three times.  He did that because, even though he was attempting De-Escalation, she had her mind made up that she wanted to die.  Not long after he arrived on scene, she charged at him with a knife forcing him to use deadly force.

Roberts, then a 4-year veteran of the Oxnard Police Department, was the first officer on scene and found the teen standing in the parking lot. After the girl brandished a six-inch kitchen knife, Roberts commanded her to drop it while he backed away.

 A second officer arrived and was in the process of retrieving a less-lethal "beanbag" shotgun from his vehicle when the teen charged at Roberts. Officer Roberts fired three rounds, striking the girl all 3 times. The girl fell to the ground and the two officers immediately began providing first aid until paramedics arrived.

The incident was captured in full by Officer Roberts' body-worn camera.  In the body-camera footage, the teen can be heard apologizing after she was shot, a guilt that would continue to grow during her stay at the hospital.

Doctors initially weren't sure she would survive due to bleeding in her liver. They later warned she would not be able to walk again from a second bullet wound in her leg.

The teen recalled the guilt that haunted her in the hospital, even affecting her dreams. She decided to make amends when she was discharged in June that year.

The teen and the officer met in person for the first time on Jan. 23, 2020, and have remained in contact ever since. 

 This young lady said she wants to share the lessons she learned to promote mental health awareness.  She said, "In many of these situations, the person in my situation does not live.  I feel like it's my duty, as someone who lived, to promote mental health awareness."

She went on to say, "Always be willing to reach out to someone who might be struggling.  Sure, you may be frustrated with them for feeling that way, but if you give them even the least bit of understanding and support, it's a gamechanger."

If you're feeling despondent, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for both English and Spanish speakers, can be reached at 988 or suicide prevention lifeline.org

Keep listening, there’s a lot to unpack in today’s show!

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