San Francisco Rookie Cop Facing Multiple Charges For Shooting Unarmed Black Man

San Francisco has had its share of police officers involved in shootings. However, most have gotten off the hook and are normally not accountable. However, that is just not the case for a rookie cop named Chris Samayoa.

Samayoa is facing multiple charges in connection with the shooting of an unarmed black man which happened on Dec. 1, 2017. Keita O’Neil was killed in a chase after the 42-year-old allegedly stole a California State Lottery van.

According to Fox News, the rookie officer and his field training officer were in pursuit of O’Neil at the time. Samayoa reportedly fired a shot through the passenger window of the police cruiser. O’Neil was said to be near the vehicle when the shot was fired. He got shot in the head and eventually died at a hospital.

Samayoa is now facing charges of voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, assault by an executive officer, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm according to District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

The charges were filed by the office of Boudin today, Nov. 24, 2020. He also added that this will be the first time in San Francisco history that an officer has been prosecuted for homicide in a Twitter post.

"In San Francisco there has been a long history of officer-involved shootings leading to no accountability whatsoever, further cementing the idea that police are above the law,” Boudin said during a news conference. “That stops today.”

Samayoa to surrender soon, O'Neil Aunt relieved

The 42-year-old officer is expected to surrender sometime this week. Boudin added that they do not plan to put him in jail pending the trial. They feel that he is not a flight risk.

When word came out that Samayoa would be facing charges, O’Neil’s aunt (April Green) welcomed the news. She says that this hopefully brings some justice to their family.