California's attorney general released an investigation report concluding there is insufficient evidence to prosecute officers who fatally shot Abigail Lopez in Anaheim on October 29, 2023.
Lopez was holding what appeared to be a firearm at a bus stop after police responded to a 911 call about an individual with an assault rifle. Officers ordered her to drop the weapon, but she did not comply. When she pointed the apparent gun toward officers, they fired, killing her. The weapon was later found to be a gel blaster, a type of replica firearm.
The California Department of Justice investigation found insufficient evidence to prove the officers acted without intent to defend themselves from what they reasonably believed was an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. The department determined there were no grounds for criminal prosecution.
The investigation identified three recommendations for the Anaheim Police Department: additional training for dispatchers on communication and threat assessment; further officer training on de-escalation communication strategies; and amendments to the department's de-escalation policy and training to comply with state law.
The investigation was conducted under Assembly Bill 1506, which requires the state's attorney general to investigate all officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in California.