THE IOWA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE OCTOBER 20TH FATAL SHOOTING OF JAMIE OROZCO BY TWO SIOUX CITY POLICE OFFICERS WAS LEGALLY JUSTIFIED.
THE CONCLUSION WAS BASED ON A REVIEW AND INVESTIGATION BY THE IOWA DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
THE INCIDENT BEGAN SUNDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 20TH WHEN CITIZENS REPORTED TO POLICE THAT A PERSON, LATER IDENTIFIED AS OROZCO, WAS WAVING A GUN, TELLING A NEARBY COUPLE, “DON’T WORRY, IT’S NOT FOR YOU,” AND THEN LEFT ON FOOT.
OFFICERS FOUND OROZCO, WHO REFUSED COMMANDS TO STOP, PULLED A HANDGUN, POINTED IT AT THE OFFICERS, AND THEN RAN OFF.
DURING THE FOOT PURSUIT, OROZCO FIRED A SHOT AT THE OFFICERS AND MISSED.
AN OFFICER FIRED A SINGLE SHOT BACK BUT DID NOT HIT HIM.
THE OFFICERS EVENTUALLY LOST SIGHT OF OROZCO.
LATER THAT NIGHT, A SWAT TEAM ENTERED THE HOME WHERE OROZCO WAS BELIEVED TO BE HIDING.
HE WAS FOUND IN AN ATTIC CRAWL SPACE THAT WAS BLOCKED AND LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE.
ONE OFFICER PARTIALLY ENTERED THE CRAWL SPACE WITH A SHIELD AND HIS GUN DRAWN. OROZCO WAS SITTING ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES JUST THREE TO FOUR FEET AWAY FROM THE OFFICER.
A CLOTH BUNDLE SEPARATED THEM WHICH THE OFFICER SUSPECTED CONTAINED A WEAPON, AND HE TOLD OROZCO THAT IF HE MOVED, HE WOULD SHOOT.
OROZCO RESPONDED, “I’M NOT GOING BACK TO PRISON, REFUSED COMMANDS TO STOP AND REACHED FOR THE BUNDLE.
THE OFFICER SHOT OROZCO ONE TIME IN THE HEAD.
OROZCO WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL, WHERE HE DIED OF HIS INJURIES ON OCTOBER 27TH. OFFICERS FOUND A GUN WAS HIDDEN IN THE CLOTH BUNDLE IN THE CRAWL SPACE.
OROZCO HAD A CRIMINAL HISTORY, INCLUDING FELONY CONVICTIONS THAT MADE IT ILLEGAL FOR HIM TO POSSESS A FIREARM.
HE WAS ALSO PARTICIPATING IN SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT FOR A CONVICTION INVOLVING INAPPROPRIATE ACTS WITH A CHILD.
OROZCO’S TREATMENT SESSIONS REVEALED THAT HE WAS RELAPSING ON METHAMPHETAMINE AND THAT HE WANTED TO GO OUT BY “SUICIDE BY COP” OR BY “TAKING ONE HIMSELF” TO AVOID PRISON.
OROZCO’S GIRLFRIEND REPORTED THAT HE WAS NOT TAKING HIS PRESCRIBED MEDICATION TO TREAT HIS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
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