Richmond, California – Body camera footage released this week provides a detailed appear at the events leading up to the fatal police shooting of Jose De Jesus Mendez, 51, on February 4, 2025. The release of the 13 officer’s perspectives comes after a California Public Records Act request filed by Richmondside, shedding light on a 30-minute standoff that ended with Mendez’s death.
The incident began as a response to a domestic violence probation violation investigation. Officers Nicholas Remick and Jessica Khalil ultimately fired the shots that killed Mendez, who police initially believed was armed with a knife. However, investigators later determined that Mendez was holding a knife sheath, not a blade. The release of the footage aims to provide transparency and a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the shooting, a case that has drawn scrutiny from the community and raised questions about police response to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
The Standoff and Fatal Shooting
The body camera footage reveals a tense scene along the Carlson Boulevard train tracks, where officers attempted to detain Mendez. According to the released dispatch audio, officers were aware that Mendez had a history of carrying knives and had previously threatened self-harm during a police encounter. They were dispatched to the area after receiving reports that Mendez was making threats against his estranged wife and her mother.
Footage shows Mendez standing near a fence, separated from the officers by a water-filled ditch. Officer Fernando Garcia attempted to de-escalate the situation, speaking to Mendez in Spanish. “We don’t desire to do anything to you,” Garcia said, according to the footage. “Jose, talk to me, please.” Despite the attempts at communication, Mendez reportedly rushed toward the officers while holding the object, leading to the use of lethal force. The shooting occurred at 8:53 p.m. On February 4, 2025, near the intersection of Carlson and Cutting boulevards.
Mendez’s Background and Prior Encounters with Law Enforcement
Family members have shared that Mendez, also known as “Chuy,” struggled with substance and alcohol abuse and was living in an encampment near his estranged family. He was reportedly known to law enforcement, frequently violating a restraining order. Maurice Tierney, a Richmond photographer who often documents the lives of the city’s undocumented population, photographed Mendez along the railroad tracks in March 2024.
Prior to the February 4th incident, police had encountered Mendez in a situation where he locked himself inside a car and threatened to take his own life. This history, coupled with the reports of threats against his family, informed the officers’ approach to the situation.
Officer Remick’s Involvement in Another Shooting
The release of the body cam footage comes amid further scrutiny of Officer Nicholas Remick, who was also involved in a separate fatal shooting just months later. On August 4, 2025, Remick and another officer fatally shot Angel Montano, a 27-year-old U.S. Marine, at his family’s home on First Street in Richmond, according to a California Department of Justice database as reported by KRON4.
In the Montano case, officers responded to a 911 call from Montano’s brother, who reported that Montano was threatening his family with a kitchen knife and experiencing a mental health crisis. The use of force in both the Mendez and Montano shootings is currently under investigation by the California Department of Justice.
Ongoing Investigations and Calls for Reform
The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office identified the victim in the February shooting as Jose Mendez-Rios, 51, of Richmond, describing him as a transient according to the Richmond Standard. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. Richmond Police Chief Bisa French has publicly acknowledged the need for improved responses to individuals experiencing mental health crises, calling for legislative changes to better support those in need as detailed in the East Bay Times.
The release of this body camera footage is expected to fuel further discussion about police tactics, mental health response, and accountability in the wake of these tragic events. The Department of Justice investigation will be critical in determining whether the officers’ actions were justified and in identifying any potential areas for improvement in police training, and procedures.
What comes next is a thorough review of the evidence by the Department of Justice, and potential policy changes within the Richmond Police Department. The community will be watching closely for the results of the investigation and any steps taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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