Police-Involved Shooting Investigation Almost Done
Woman Shot, Killed By Officers In July
POSTED: 4:37 pm PDT August 15,
2008
UPDATED: 5:05 pm PDT August 15,
2008
SALINAS, Calif. -- Salinas police are wrapping up the investigation of an officer-involved shooting that left a woman dead.The shooting took place on East Laurel Avenue just over a month ago.Maria Delatorre was shot twice in front of a home on East Laurel Avenue just over a month ago after police said she lunged at them with a sharp object.
Investigators said the case has been held up by a toxicology report.Delatorre was stabbing herself in the neck when officers showed up at her home, police said.When Delatorre lunged at two officers, Steven Mattocks and Robert Balaoro, one pulled out a Taser and the other officer used his handgun, investigators said.Once the investigation is complete, the district attorney's office will determine if Delatorre committed a crime and whether the officers acted lawfully."Everything is transparent," said Manny Perrien with the Salinas Police Department. "We collect the facts, whichever side they lay on, warts and all, and the district attorney's office gets that case and they make legal determination on how to proceed from there."Perrien said the results of the investigation could be going to the district attorney's office in less than two weeks.Another investigation will be conducted afterward to determine if either officer violated department policies or procedures.Mattocks and Balaoro were placed on administrative leave briefly, but are now back on full duty.
Previous Stories:
- July 14, 2008: Police: Crochet Hook-Wielding Woman Killed
Copyright 2008 by KSBW.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
















