Update: SLO Police release video, identify man in officer-involved shooting
– The San Luis Obispo Police Department has identified the man who died in an officer-involved shooting Feb. 28 and released in-car video of the incident.
According to police, dispatch received five emergency calls between 4:44 p.m. and 4:53 p.m. reporting that a man had threatened to shoot a caller and their dogs in the Arbors neighborhood. Callers described the person as a Black male wearing dark clothing and “acting in an erratic manner with a firearm.”
Multiple callers believed the man was holding a firearm. One caller described the weapon as silver in color, while another caller believed the firearm was a toy gun, according to SLOPD.
Officers arrived at the intersection of Poinsettia Street and Bluebell Way at 4:54 p.m. and located a male suspect who matched the description from the emergency calls.
Police said that as the first arriving officer exited his patrol vehicle, the suspect immediately dropped to one knee and pointed a weapon at the officer.
“The officer yelled at the suspect, ‘hey, stop, stop, stop,’ but he did not respond to the officer’s commands,” according to the police department.
The officer fired a single shot from a rifle, striking the suspect, who fell to the ground.
Officers requested emergency medical units and performed first aid and CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived. The suspect was pronounced deceased by San Luis Obispo City Fire at 5:06 p.m.
Police identified the man as Willie Felton Foster Jr., 69, who was transient in San Luis Obispo. Police said inspection of the weapon at the scene revealed it was not a real firearm.
The police department released in-car video of the incident ahead of the 45-day requirement under California Assembly Bill 748 and California Government Code Section 7923.625.
Police said the video was released “in the interest of transparency and informing the public about a critical law enforcement incident that is very uncommon in our community.”
The city is reviewing incident records and will make any required redactions to protect the privacy of Foster, his family, emergency callers, and witnesses, and to ensure that the release of records does not interfere with the investigation being conducted by the California Department of Justice.
The San Luis Obispo Police Department said it continues to cooperate with the California Department of Justice as the investigation continues.
San Luis Obispo police fatally shoot man holding replica firearm
–Officers with the San Luis Obispo Police Department shot and killed a man Saturday afternoon after responding to reports of an individual waving a firearm in a residential neighborhood, according to a Facebook post by the department.
Police said the incident occurred Feb. 28 at about 4:46 p.m. near the intersection of Poinsettia Street and Bluebell Way.
Officers responded after receiving several 911 calls reporting a man in the 900 block of El Capitan Way who was shouting aggressively and waving a firearm. Responding officers located the man near the intersection of Poinsettia Street and Bluebell Way, where they say he was yelling and holding what appeared to be a handgun.
An officer confronting the threat discharged a weapon, striking the man one time. Despite life-saving efforts, the man was declared dead at the scene. Authorities said his identity will be released pending notification of next of kin. No officers or community members were injured during the incident.
The initial investigation determined the firearm was a replica. Under state law and department policy, incidents involving simulated firearms are investigated by the California Department of Justice. The department said it will cooperate fully with the investigation, and body-worn camera footage will be released in accordance with Assembly Bill 748.
The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave, consistent with department policy.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
