By Nakayla McClelland
Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
New Mexico State Police this week released lapel and production footage from a police shooting that occurred during the filming of the TV show “Cops.”
A State Police officer was on patrol around noon on Oct. 3 near Cochiti and California SE with two members of the production crew when he saw two men walking in the road, State Police spokesperson Wilson Silver said in a video posted online. The officer moved to detain the two men.
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“The officer said he knew pedestrians being struck by vehicles was a serious concern in Albuquerque,” Silver said. “He explained that he regularly conducted pedestrian stops in an attempt to prevent these types of incidents.”
One of the men, identified as 26-year-old Izaeah Washington, began to walk away as the officer told him he was being detained, according to lapel footage.
As Washington continued to walk away, the officer broke into a sprint to chase after him, the footage showed. He quickly tackled Washington, who had a gun in his hand.
“One of the production crew members saw that Washington had a gun and yelled, ‘Gun!’” Silver said.
Items scattered out of Washington’s backpack as the two wrestled on the asphalt. Lapel footage showed Washington fumbling with the gun in his hand during the altercation.
The gun was later determined to have been stolen, Silver said.
A member of the production crew — who continued to film — could be heard on video telling another crew member to move away from the scene. As the two crew members ran behind a nearby dumpster, a gunshot rang out, according to the video.
Silver said it was Washington who fired the shot, though neither camera captured the moment. The officer’s lapel camera appeared to have fallen off during the scuffle and production footage briefly turned away from the scene as the men sought cover.
The officer could be heard repeatedly shouting, “Drop it.”
Four gunshots can be heard in the video before the officer says, “Show me your hands! Shots fired. Suspect down.”
“Stay down,” a crew member said after shots were fired.
“We’re good, we’re good, we’re good,” he said shortly after.
Washington was taken to a hospital, where he died.
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