‘They were trying to kill my family': Body camera footage released of teen accused of shooting Cal City officer

Yahoo

19 hours ago

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The call came in around 4 p.m. A woman, speaking rapidly, reported a girl walking in California City fired a shot at a white van.
'She just shot a gun,' the caller says in a video released on YouTube Thursday by sheriff's investigators. 'She just put it in her pocket.'
Minutes later, an officer found the girl walking on Hickory Avenue. The encounter left both suffering from gunshot wounds.
As other officers took her into custody, the girl, Annette Garcia, said she and her family were in danger.
'I was just trying to help my family,' she says. 'They were trying to kill my family.'
Garcia, 17 at the time of the April 21 shooting, recovered from her injuries and has undergone a mental competency examination. She's due in juvenile court next week for a hearing at which the results will be discussed.
She's charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault with a gun on a peace officer, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, attempted murder of a public official, carrying a loaded gun, possession of live ammunition by a minor, carrying a dirk or dagger and resisting arrest.
A prosecutor has said Garcia had access to unsecured guns in her mother's home.
The wounded officer, Michael Kelakios, had a bullet removed from his leg, sheriff's officials said. He fired at Garcia after she turned and shot him the moment he got out of his patrol vehicle, according to police.
An incident review board on June 5 found he acted within department policy.
The video released Thursday contains audio of a 911 call, body camera video of the wounded officer and Garcia's arrest, and photos of the damaged van and the weapons — a handgun and knife — officials said Garcia was carrying.
The round fired at the van passed through what appears to be its left side and hit a package inside.
That shooting occurred in the area of Corwin Street and Lime Avenue. No one was injured, although the woman on the 911 call was obviously shaken up.
'Let's get in the house before she shoots again,' the woman says to someone, possibly her son, whom she later mentions. 'Dude, I don't want to die.'
About nine minutes later, Kelakios confronted Garcia. Body camera video shows another officer arrive after the shooting and apply a tourniquet to Kelakios' leg.
While receiving treatment, Kelakios says, 'Hey, watch yourself. She just pulled it out and shot right at me, bro.'
He adds, 'I returned fire, but I don't know how I missed.'
He hadn't. Garcia had been hit twice, officials said.
She was found nearby and held at gunpoint as she dropped her gun. She was then placed in handcuffs. She apologized while being arrested, and kept saying she tried to help her family.
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