CHP Kills Unarmed Man and Wounds Pregnant Girlfriend in East Oakland

On June 6, 2020, three CHP officers shot and killed Erik Salgado and wounded his pregnant girlfriend Brianna Colombo. In a statement released late Tuesday, OPD said the officers opened fire after Salgado rammed his car into CHP vehicles.

Neighbors reported that over 30 shots were fired, from assault rifles. CHP seized video of the shooting from neighbors and has not released any footage of the incident. Mr. Salgado was killed a block from his family’s home.  He leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter.

Darwin Bond Graham has reported on this incident in Berkleyside.  You can read his piece here:

The CHP has not released any video of the incident. In fact, according to Mr. Bond Graham, The CHP’s refusal to provide information about the incident is not unusual. California Highway Patrol has not released any records regarding its officers’ past use of deadly force, despite a state law that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, requiring police to disclose previously confidential investigative records about shootings and other fatal incidents. KQED is currently suing the CHP over its refusal to hand over these records. The Oaklandside also put in records requests with CHP, but has yet to receive a single file.

The DA in Alameda County is currently investigating the matter. On June 8, around 1,000 Oakland residents and activists gathered on the grass at Elmhurst School on 98th Avenue, about one block from the scene of the shooting. Salgado’s family members joined the protest as it marched to his shrine.

“We don’t need the police,” George Galvis, an organizer of the march told the crowd before they stepped into 98th Avenue. “We don’t need police protection. We need protection from the police.”