Police bodycam video shows the moments right before an Oregon officer fatally shoots the parent of a student outside of a middle school following a confrontation.
The fatal shooting happened Jan. 11 at Cascade Middle School in Eugene, following a custodial dispute involving 30-year-old Charles Landeros. The video was released Thursday after the Lane County district attorney ruled that the officer’s use of deadly force was justified.
Landeros' family, however, said in a statement via their attorney that they will be conducting their own investigation "to review the use of deadly force that resulted in the tragic death of their loved one."
"We know this is a complex situation and that these situations often involve split-second decisions that are not fully appreciated simply by watching a video," the family said, adding: "The video, and the accompanying statement from the DA’s office do not change the fact that many in the community are still grieving and that Charlie’s daughters are now without their father."
The incident began when Landeros’ ex-wife went to the school after learning that Landeros had enrolled their child into the middle school without her permission, the DA's office said in a press release.
The school told Landeros — an Army veteran who served from 2006 to 2012 and was honorably discharged — to come to the school, and also called the school resource officer Steve Timm.
When Timm learned that “there was a custody dispute occurring,” he called Eugene Police Officer Aaron Johns for assistance, according to the release.
The video shows the two officers in the school’s hallway ordering Landeros to leave the building.
“The police do not have jurisdiction over here. The principal has not asked me to leave,” Landeros says, before appearing to walk away from the officers.
As the officers were trying to get Landeros to leave the building, the child walked into the hallway. Landeros started yelling at the child to "go," according to the DA’s office.
The video shows one of the officers grabbing and pushing Landeros out a door. Police then announce they're arresting Landeros.
During a struggle, Landeros pulled out a handgun and fired two shots at Timm, the DA's office said. Timm, who was not wounded, returned fire, striking Landeros in the head.
Authorities said students were in the hallway and in a nearby classroom during the altercation. Two people at the school, as well as Landeros’ child, witnessed the shooting, the DA’s office said.
An investigation following the shooting found that Landeros was carrying an extra magazine with ammunition on Landeros' belt and another in the car, authorities said. Landeros was also wearing a backpack that contained additional ammunition, authorities said.
“Officer Timm saved the life of Officer Johns, himself and perhaps many others,” the DA’s office ruled. “There is no clearer circumstance that the use of deadly force is justified than this.”