Photo: Kenneth French
CORONA – An off-duty officer shooting a semiautomatic in Costco on June 14, 2019 has lead to Department of Justice (DOJ) action. On August 9th, California Attorney General Rob Bonta broadcasted the arrest and filing of felony charges for alleged voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semiautomatic firearm against former Los Angeles Police Department officer Salvador Sanchez.
The announced charges from Oakland surprised many after the conclusion of proceedings at the local level. Once the subsequent review of the incident by the Attorney General’s Office was conducted – authorized under Article V of the California Constitution – Sanchez was arrested in Riverside County.
Court documents describe Sanchez, while off-duty, shot and killed 32-year-old Kenneth French inside a Costco. Sanchez also shot and wounded Kenneth’s parents, Russell (58) and Paola (59).
The off-duty shooting occurred during a Costco shopping trip with his son in Corona. Following a review of the incident by the Attorney General’s Office, Sanchez now faces a total of three felony charges for actions that resulted in the death of one individual and the serious injury of two more.
The DOJ stresses the important note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.
“Where there’s reason to believe a crime has been committed, we will seek justice,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s exactly what these charges are about: pursuing justice after an independent and thorough review of the evidence and the law.”
“Ultimately, any loss of life is a tragedy and being licensed to carry a gun doesn’t mean you’re not accountable for how you use it,” added AG Bonta. “No matter who you are, nobody is above the law.”
