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Kidnapped Antioch cop opens fire on robbery suspect
The Antioch Police Department shared bodycam video of an officer being pulled into a moving car before opening fire on a robbery suspect.
ANTIOCH, Calif. - Authorities released video of a grocery store robbery attempt that escalated into a two-mile kidnapping, showing the moments an Antioch police officer fought to regain control of a suspect’s vehicle before shooting him in the leg.
FoodMaxx robbery
What we know:
The incident began Feb. 20 at approximately 5:15 a.m. at the FoodMaxx on Lone Tree Way. Surveillance footage shows a stolen Infiniti reversing through the store’s front glass doors. Three men, including the driver, jumped out of the car and entered the business. A store employee reported that one of the men was armed with a handgun and threatened him, police said.
Antioch cop shoots alleged robbery suspect after officer pulled into moving car
An attempted robbery at an Antioch grocery store early Friday set off a chain of events that stretched nearly two miles and ended in a police shooting, authorities said.
Officers Kyle Armstrong and Travis Donaldson arrived within minutes. As they drew their weapons, the driver of the Infiniti, later identified as 23-year-old Dominick Desouza, rammed an unoccupied patrol car that was blocking him in, officials said.
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Struggle and kidnapping
Dig deeper:
"Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands!" an officer is heard shouting on bodycam footage.
As Donaldson reached through the passenger side to confront the driver, a struggle ensued. During the tussle, Desouza reversed back into the store, knocking Donaldson into the vehicle. Desouza then accelerated forward at a high rate of speed, according to police, swerving around the patrol car and fleeing the scene with Donaldson still inside the car.
The other two suspects fled on foot as the Infiniti sped away, beginning a chaotic two-mile journey through city streets.
'It’s not worth it'
What they're saying:
Inside the speeding car, Donaldson held Desouza at gunpoint, repeatedly pleading with him to pull over.
"Stop the car! Stop the car!" Donaldson shouted. "Get out of the car, bro," Desouza replied.
As the high-speed stalemate continued, Desouza told the officer he was going to crash.
"Don't do it. It's not worth it," Donaldson says.
"I got a family, bro," the man told the officer. Donaldson tried to de-escalate the situation, telling the young man, "All right, talk to me, talk to me."
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The shooting
The situation turned physical again when Donaldson tried to shift the car into neutral. Desouza repeatedly pulled the officer’s hand off the gear shift, leading to a final ultimatum.
"I'm warning you, I will shoot your leg," Donaldson said. After striking Desouza with his firearm in yet another attempt to get the man to stop, Donaldson fired a single shot into the suspect’s leg.
"Officer Donaldson intentionally shot Desouza in the leg to reduce the likelihood of a fatality to Desouza, himself, and members of the community," the Antioch Police Department said.
The stolen Infiniti eventually crashed into a parked car in a residential neighborhood. Despite his wound, Desouza fled on foot but was found 10 minutes later hiding in nearby bushes.
Donaldson sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Desouza was treated at a local hospital and now faces charges of kidnapping, assault on an officer, robbery, and burglary.
The Source: Antioch Police Department