On Monday, September 18, 2017 at 7:04 p.m., the Sacramento Police Department received a call for assistance at a residence on the 7600 block of Bellini Way.  Bail Bond agents were attempting to serve a warrant on a wanted subject when they observed the suspect enter the residence. 

The bail agents made entry into the residence and located the suspect in one of the rooms armed with a handgun.  They informed officers on scene that the suspect was armed and held up in a bathroom.

A Police Sergeant and K9 officer entered the residence and began talking with the suspect trying to convince him to safely surrender.   At one point, the suspect fired his weapon in an unknown direction while held up in the bathroom. 

After several minutes of dialogue, the suspect opened the door of the bathroom and could be seen by officers holding a handgun and manipulating it with both hands.  Multiple commands were given throughout the incident for the suspect to drop the gun and surrender. 

During the incident, the suspect refused to comply with the officer’s commands and displayed the gun in the direction of the officers.  17-year veteran, K9 officer John Harshbarger fired his weapon 4 times striking the suspect, 30-year old, Kristopher Velez several times.  Shortly thereafter, the Sacramento Fire Department arrived on scene and transported the suspect to a local area hospital. 

Velez has since been released from the hospital and continues to recover from his injuries.  At this point, the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office has not filed a criminal complaint against Velez. 

Follow the link below to view the original press release:

https://www.sacpd.org/newsroom/releases/liveview.aspx?release_id=20170918-126

This investigation remains active so certain details will not be released due to the on-going administrative review and criminal investigation.  It is important to the Sacramento Police Department that the community has a full understanding of how the incident unfolded.

This incident continues to be investigated by the Sacramento Police Department’s Homicide Unit and will be monitored by the Internal Affairs Division and investigators from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of Public Safety Accountability will have full unvetted access to material throughout the investigative process. 

By releasing the videos which captured the event, we believe this will benefit the community in understanding the nature of what transpired leading up to the use of deadly force by officers.  The release of the video and audio files of this event fall under the City Council policy on Police Use of Force. 

Today’s release will include a total of (12) videos consisting of (7) Body Worn (BWC) and (5) In-Car Camera (ICC) videos.  It will also contain dispatch audio files and radio traffic from officers during the incident. 

All video and audio files released have been redacted to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of those involved.  The faces have been blurred, as outlined by the City Council policy.  Audio redactions are signified by muted audio with no accompanying sound. 

We appreciate the community’s patience and support during this process as we conclude the initial stages of evaluating the investigative material.  These videos are now available to the public through the YouTube link below.  They will also be posted on the Department’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account (@sacpolice). 

These videos may contain graphic images and/or profane language. Disclaimer: Personal information (names, addresses, phone numbers, identities ETC.) have been redacted in the following audio/video clips to protect the privacy of those involved.

See the below YouTube link to access the videos:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR0Wtq8JGPQa4Vb3C0-lTGWDP_Ly8cEWM 

The Sacramento Police Department encourages any witnesses with information regarding this incident to contact the dispatch center at (916)264-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or submit an anonymous tip using the free “P3 Tips” smartphone app. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.