Police in San Leandro have confirmed that an officer fatally shot a man suspected of brandishing a baseball bat at a local Walmart Saturday afternoon.
Two officers responded to the Walmart store on Hesperian Boulevard around 3 p.m.
Upon arriving at the scene the officers had difficulty detaining the suspect. Both officers used tasers but neither were successful in detaining the man.
A video posted to social media shows police officers trying to subdue the man just inside the doors of the store.
One officer then fired at the suspect and he died, police said.
“Officers deployed a taser,” said Lt. Ted Henderson of the San Leandro Police Department. “That same officer who is a 25 year veteran in law enforcement, then fired one shot at the suspect striking him in the upper torso.”
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The video shows the man walking a few steps, dropping the bat and collapsing to the floor.
Police said they initially suspected a robbery. Investigators also said when the man was shot he was tased by the second officer.
A customer at the scene said she didn’t know who was shooting.
“…you kind of want to cry just based on the history that we have with active shooters,” she said.
Police have confirmed that the man was 33-year-old San Leandro resident Steven Demarco Taylor. They have not been able to confirm whether or not he had mental health issues.
"This dude was saying he wanted to die before the police even arrived...he waited for the police to get here while he was swinging a bat," said Instagram poster Mike_Myke, who was not the poster of the video. "He was threatening to kill the door greeter ... people offered to help him and he refused."
Police said Sunday that they are considering releasing body cam footage of the incident, but that decision has not been finalized.
The officer has been placed on paid leave pending investigation, according to authorities. Walmart in San Leandro will remain closed during the investigation.
