Video shows officer shoot and kill man wielding a bat inside a California Walmart

The San Leandro, California, Police Department has released body cam footage showing a fatal officer-involved shooting at a Walmart on April 18.

The shooting resulted in the death of 33-year-old Steven Demarco Taylor, who was attempting to steal from the store and waving a baseball bat in a threatening way, according to the police department and a 911 call it released.

Two officers approached Taylor near the store’s entrance video shows. As Taylor walked toward them with the bat, an officer discharged a Taser, and Taylor continued walking toward them.

That’s when an unnamed officer fired his gun at Taylor, striking him in the “upper torso,” police said. The other officer then successfully Tased the man, knocking him to the ground, video shows.

A bystander can be heard yelling, “Don’t shoot him no more.”

Taylor was handcuffed at the store and an officer told him, “We’ve got fire coming for you, man, and they will take you to the hospital,” video shows. Taylor died at the scene, police said.

The police department did not release the names of the officers because of threats of violence they have received, San Leandro police chief Jeff Tudor said. They have been placed on administrative leave.

“This was a traumatic experience for all involved including the numerous witnesses at the store that afternoon,” Tudor said. “Our thoughts are with the families affected by this tragic incident.”

San Leandro Mayor Paulene Russo Cutter promised transparency with the police and district attorney’s office findings in their investigation.

An attorney for Taylor’s family, S. Lee Merritt, said the officers are “poorly trained to deal with individuals suffering from a mental health crisis,” according to the East Bay Times.

“Their intentional and repeated application of force despite the absence of a threat in these recordings is sufficient evidence for authorities to issue an arrest warrant for the shooting officers,” Merritt added.

This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 11:42 AM with the headline "Video shows officer shoot and kill man wielding a bat inside a California Walmart."