Family of man fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies while in mental health crisis sues Sacramento
The family members of a man who was fatally shot by Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies in March have filed a lawsuit.
Sheriff’s deputies on March 23 fatally shot Christopher Gilmore outside his Rio Linda home after his sister called 911 because he was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Gilmore’s two minor children and his sister Bobbie Gilmore filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the county and several unnamed deputies Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court.
“Christopher was in the throes of a mental health crisis, was weakened, and did not pose an imminent threat to anyone,” the lawsuit states. “The killing was unnecessary, unreasonable, and unjustified.”
Sacramento County spokeswoman Kim Nava declined comment because the county has not yet been served with the suit. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi said he cannot comment on pending litigation.
The family released security footage of the incident, and then the Sheriff’s Office released its own videos.
The videos show Gilmore, naked and bleeding, as he stumbles from the house onto the driveway, toward a parked red pickup and then toward the street. He held a small blade carried near his waist. Deputies can be heard screaming “drop the knife” repeatedly at Gilmore. He then slowly stumbles toward the street, apparently at least 10 feet from where the closest deputy was standing with a weapon drawn.
“Christopher was not walking towards the deputies, not waving the knife, not acting aggressively, and not pointing the knife at anyone,” the lawsuit stated.
Deputies then shot him multiple times. He died at the scene.
Gilmore, 34, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the lawsuit stated.
His sister called 911 because Gilmore was locked in the bathroom with self-inflicted wounds, experiencing a mental health crisis, the lawsuit stated. He was not a threat to anyone other than himself.
The suit alleges the county should have sent non-police mental health professionals instead of armed police.
“Created around March 2022, Sacramento County created and implemented a ‘Community Wellness Response Team,” the lawsuit stated. “Its hours are, “24/7, 365 days, including holidays. Despite CWRT’s claimed hours of operation, no one was available to respond to the (Gilmore) house.”
A state law that went into effect in 2019 requires California law enforcement agencies to release all video and records regarding officer-involved shootings within 45 days, unless a criminal case has been filed regarding the incident. That deadline passed in May, but so far the Sheriff’s Office has only released the video and audio clips — no records.
Gandhi, the Sheriff’s spokesman, did not provide the names of the deputies involved, whether they are still Sheriff’s Office employees, whether they are on leave, and whether they have been disciplined.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the incident to determine if it should charge the deputies criminally. Since 2015, the office has never filed charges on a Sacramento law enforcement officer for a shooting while on duty.
