Video Released in Everett Officer-Involved Shooting
EVERETT – Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan today released the video recordings, the 911 call and radio transmissions from the incident that occurred on April 21, 2016 when Mario Mejia Martinez, 48, of Everett was fatally shot by Everett Police who responded to a 911 report of a man who was harassing pedestrians in front of 432 Broadway Street in Everett.
The day after the shooting, detectives spoke to the brother of the deceased and gave him an opportunity to view videos of the incident taken by cameras owned by the City of Everett. At that time information was provided that the deceased had a wife and children in El Salvador. Through the family’s lawyer we made the family aware of the videos and have shown the footage from April 21 to family representatives. At this point in the investigation we have also completed interviews of all known witnesses.
The videos being released today include footage from two private security cameras and three City of Everett cameras. The footage was taken in the area of 432 Broadway Street in Everett at approximately 4:33 p.m.
“These videos will give the public access to preliminary facts while we continue to conduct a full, fair and thorough investigation into this matter,” said District Attorney Ryan. “At the conclusion of the investigation we will be releasing a full report.”
Photos from the incident were also released today including a still frame taken from Video 3 (listed below) and a photo of the knife that was in the possession of Mejia Martinez at the time of the April 21 incident. These represent a portion of the evidence investigators have obtained as part of an open and active investigation being conducted by the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office, Massachusetts State Police and the Everett Police Department.
The footage appears to show the following sequence of events, with times taken from the clips’ timestamps:
Video 1:
Video footage taken from a private security camera; this video has been zoomed in. The time recorded on the video is Military real time.
Mejia Martinez can be seen on the sidewalk at Norwood and Broadway, pacing about commencing at approximately 1609 hours.
1633:28- The Officer arrives on scene and is observed on foot approaching from Broadway. He reaches conversation distance with Mejia Martinez.
1633:29– The Officer is backing away from Mejia Martinez into the intersection of Broadway and Norwood Street.
1633:33– The Officer reaches a green car traveling south in the intersection and begins to step to his left (south) as his path to retreat is obstructed by the car.
1633:40- The Officer is observed with his weapon un-holstered and pointed at the ground. As the video moves forward the Officer is observed making hand gestures to Mejia Martinez and also reaching to his radio with his left hand.
1633:49- Mejia Martinez steps off the curb, hands raised and waiving in the Officer’s direction, closing in on the Officer, and charging crouched down. The Officer raised his weapon as Mejia Martinez stepped from the curb and began the advance.
1633:53- Mejia Martinez falls to the ground, as the Officer steps to his rear and right (north).
1653:57– The Officer holstered his weapon, after seeing Mejia Martinez was down, and not getting up. Another Everett Police cruiser is on scene; an Everett Officer is advancing on foot; and other Everett Police cruisers are arriving.
Video 2
Video is the un-zoomed Video 1. The time stamp is the same.
Video 3
Video was taken from a City of Everett camera.
As the video begins Mejia Martinez can be seen standing on the sidewalk at Norwood
Street and Broadway at the “Do Not Enter” sign.
1:00 –The Officer arrives on scene, exits his cruiser, and begins to approach
Mejia Martinez. Mejia Martinez walks towards the cruiser and the Officer.
1:12 -Mejia Martinez is at the traffic light, and the Officer is about to step onto the sidewalk.
1:20 –The Officer is moving backwards and reaching for his gun with his right hand. Mejia Martinez is walking forward towards the Officer. Mejia Martinez is waiving his hands (bright flashes can be seen in his left hand forearm area). The Officer backs up into traffic, and can be seen reaching for his radio at 1:22.
The video skips and at 1:25 the Officer is standing on the sewer cover, and the suspect is on the corner of the sidewalk. The Officer has moved to his left and down. His weapon is in his right hand pointed down; Mejia Martinez is on the sidewalk with his arms out to the side.
1:37 -Mejia Martinez has closed in on the Officer and is now on the street continuing to move forward.
1:46 -Mejia Martinez is almost on the Officer, the Officer is moving to his right and shooting. Mejia Martinez falls forward, the knife appears to be in his right hand as he falls.
Video 4
This footage was taken from a City of Everett camera.
1:05 -The Officer has arrived on scene and exited his cruiser just north of the Cancun Restaurant on Broadway. The Officer is observed walking toward the suspect’s location on the sidewalk at the corner of Broadway and Norwood Street. He leaves camera view.
1:11 –The Officer returns to camera view and is observed moving backwards into the intersection quickly walking backwards and into traffic, a green car is observed in the intersection travelling south.
1:15 – The Officer reaches for his radio on his left shoulder with his left hand, and his right hand has his gun pointed down. The Officer is then observed moving to his left.
1:18 -Mejia Martinez is observed entering camera view waving his arms and hands.
1:20 -The Officer is observed pointing his left hand at Mejia Martinez, his right hand with gun is still pointed low.
1:21 –The Officer is observed reaching with his left hand on the radio again.
1:23- The Officer and Mejia Martinez are off camera view
1:30 -Two Everett cruisers arrive from the north on Broadway.
1:45 - Two additional cruisers arrive from the east on Chelsea Street.
The shooting has already taken place, and is not observed on video.
Video 5
This footage was taken from a City of Everett camera.
Mejia Martinez can be seen standing on the sidewalk near a “Do Not Enter” sign at the corner of Norwood Street and Broadway.
0035– The Officer arrives on scene and exits his cruiser. Mejia Martinez can be seen walking towards the cruiser, making hand gestures. The Officer is out of the cruiser, pedestrians are on the sidewalk.
It continues to 0046.
The video skips and at 0048, the shooting has taken place and not recorded.
0048 -Mejia Martinez is lying on the street after the shooting.
According to the technology company that services the cameras operated by the City of Everett, the gaps in the recordings are likely caused by limited bandwidth capability and environmental interference.
Video 6
This footage was taken from a private security camera.
The video starts as an Everett Police cruiser is seen entering the frame.
0013 –The Officer is seen exiting his cruiser. Mejia Martinez can be seen walking towards the cruiser, making hand gestures. The Officer is out of the cruiser, pedestrians are on the sidewalk.
0021 – The Officeris observed moving backwards into the intersection quickly walking backwards and into traffic, a green car is observed in intersection travelling south.
The view is partially obstructed.
0043– The Officer is moving backwards and reaching for his gun with his right hand. Mejia Martinez is walking forward towards the Officer.
0046- Martinez Mejia is almost on the Officer, the Officer is moving to his right and shooting, Mejia Martinez falls forward on the ground
Everett Police cruisers and officers are seen arriving on scene.
The audio of the 911 call and radio transmission can be heard here: