Body cam video of deadly officer-involved shooting in Salinas released

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The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office held a press conference to discuss the Salinas police officer-involved shooting that left one woman dead.

20-year-old Brenda Rodriguez Mendoza was shot and killed in the 1000 block of E. Laurel Drive on March 1.

Officers responded to the area for reports of a disturbance involving weapons. After an hours-long standoff with Mendoza, officers opened fire. Mendoza died at the scene.

In the press conference Tuesday, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni walked through the entire standoff interaction between officers and Mendoza.

The body cam footage released showed more than 30 minutes leading up to the shooting.

The video shows three separate times Mendoza raised what turned out to be a BB gun. The third time Mendoza raised and pointed the gun at officers they felt they had no choice but to fire ultimitaly kiiling her.

The DA’s office interviewed all three officers, who fired off a total of 18 rounds.

During the stand off Mendoza’s boyfriend told officers the gun was a BB gun, but officers said in the moment it looked to be real.

“They made a notation the weapon they observed did not have an orange tip, which would traditionally show it to be a replica or not a real gun,” Pacioni said.

In the body cam footage you can hear the hostage negotiator and other officers pleading for the 20–year-old to put the gun down.

The commanding SWAT officer said they weighed several options including spraying gas or shooting off rubber bullets, but decided that would only make things worse.

“He didn’t want to do anything that would agitate her more when she was clearly already agitated,” Pacioni said.

Investigators found anti-depressants in Mendoza’s system. In Tuesday’s press conference, Pacioni showed a text message Mendoza sent her mom during the stand off that said she was going to kill herself.

“Officers knew this was a situation were she had been seen for mental illness recently and had two outstanding warrants,” Pacioni said.

KION spoke exclusively with Mendoza’s mom today, who says she still believes her daughter was not a threat to officers.

Following the incident, Brenda’s mother was working to get custody of Brenda’s newborn daughter. Tuesday, we learned from Mendoza’s mom Brenda’s boyfriend received custody.
The officers involved in the shooting were on administrative leave for about a week but have been back at work.

The investigation will continue until the DA’s office has made a decision on whether officers will be criminally charged.

Salinas Police Chief Adele Frese released the names of the officers involved:

Bryan McKinley, 15-years law enforcement experience.

Carlo Calupad, 14-years law enforcement.

Robert Miller, 11-years law enforcement experience.