Fontana, California – A newly released law enforcement footage has shed light on the tragic death of an unarmed 15-year-old girl, Savannah Graziano, who was fatally shot by California police on September 27, 2022. Reports indicate that she was a kidnapping victim at the time of the incident.
Following reports of her abduction by her father, Anthony Graziano, San Bernardino county sheriff’s deputies were on the lookout for Savannah after her mother was gunned down just a day before. The search for Savannah culminated in a confrontation on the side of a freeway in Hesperia, 80 miles east of Los Angeles, where she was fatally shot by deputies.
The sheriff’s department initially withheld the footage for about two years, citing uncertainty over whether Savannah was shot by her father or deputies. They also claimed that deputies failed to recognize her when she exited the vehicle. However, newly released video files shared with independent journalist Joey Scott reveal a different narrative.
According to reports, the footage shows Savannah complying with deputies’ instructions as she moved towards them before being shot. The video also captures two officers identifying her before the fatal shooting took place. The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about the use of force by law enforcement.
On the day of the shooting, Savannah’s father engaged in a high-speed chase with deputies after allegedly shooting her mother and firing shots at a father and child outside a school in Fontana. Authorities issued an Amber alert for Savannah, indicating that she was believed to be taken against her will by her father.
When Savannah exited the vehicle, wearing tactical gear and unarmed, deputies at different viewpoints reportedly saw her as a threat and opened fire. Despite efforts to clarify her identity and halt the shooting, it was too late, and Savannah succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital. The incident remains under investigation by the California Department of Justice.
The tragic death of Savannah Graziano highlights the complexities and challenges faced by law enforcement in high-pressure situations involving potential threats. As more details emerge from the investigation, the community continues to seek answers and justice for the young victim whose life was cut short in a tragic turn of events.