Simi Valley police chase: A police chase in Simi Valley, California, ended in a crash and police shooting. Newly released bodycam video shows key moments from the incident. The man killed in the shooting was 37-year-old Nicholas Thompson.
What Happened?
Newly released body camera footage provides more details about what happened during the police chase and shooting.
At approximately 8:15 a.m. on July 21, police were called to a domestic dispute and assault in the 2500 block of Dusan Street in Simi Valley.
The suspect, Nicholas Thompson, left the scene before police arrived. After a preliminary investigation, police said there was sufficient cause to arrest him on charges of domestic violence and elder abuse.
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Police bodycam video also shows officers talking to family members. The family told police that Thompson may have a weapon and that he threatened to shoot police before leaving the house.
Later, at about 1:35 p.m., police spotted Thompson driving a car near Simi Valley Town Center.
When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, he sped away, leading officers on a police chase. A police pursuit ensued.
The pursuit eventually ended near Dusan Street, where Thompson’s vehicle hit an empty police motorcycle.
Officers then pointed their weapons at the vehicle and opened fire. Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene.
No officers were injured in the incident, police said.
New Bodycam Video Shows Key Moments
Newly released bodycam video shows parts of the police pursuit before and after the chase.
In one video, an officer is seen ordering family members to get to a safe place. He tells them to go inside and lock the door.
Meanwhile, a witness in the area also recorded video of gunfire. The video shows police vehicles speeding toward the scene.
Another video shows the suspect’s pickup truck speeding down the road before hitting a police motorcycle.
Officers in the rear immediately got out of their vehicles, brandished their weapons, and opened fire.
What We Know about Simi Valley police chase
Here’s what police and the released video have to say so far:
The suspect has been identified as Nicholas Thompson.
He was 37 years old.
He was a resident of Simi Valley.
Police were called to the scene of a domestic dispute and assault on the morning of July 21.
Police found probable cause to arrest him on charges of domestic battery and elder abuse.
Police later saw him driving and attempted to stop him.
The vehicle did not stop, and a police pursuit ensued.
The pursuit ended near Dusan Street.
The suspect’s vehicle hit an empty police motorcycle.
Thompson was then shot and killed by police.
No officers were injured.
Background of Simi Valley police chase
The incident began with a domestic dispute. Police did not find Thompson at the scene. During the investigation, officers also documented a bloody wound on his father’s hand.
Family members told police that Thompson may have been armed and had spoken out about a confrontation with police.
Police have not released all the details about those claims. While the released video shows various moments of the incident, other information is needed to understand the full circumstances of the police shooting.
The incident was further complicated by the fact that the car crashed after a police chase. Officers opened fire on the car shortly after the crash, and Thompson died at the scene.
What Happens Next?
The investigation into the incident has become more important because a man was killed in a police shooting. With new bodycam video being released, The released videos may help investigators understand what happened during the chase and shooting.
The circumstances of the police shooting, the events during the chase, and what happened before and after the crash could all be important to the investigation.
It is not appropriate to draw a final conclusion about the police shooting until the investigation into the incident is complete.
Sources: Simi Valley police chase
The information in this report is based on information released by the Simi Valley Police Department and bodycam and eyewitness video reports of the incident.
