The father believed to have kidnapped a California teenager in September 2022 was shot and killed by deputies as he followed orders and did not appear to be wearing tactical gear, as authorities previously said, newly released video shows.
Savannah Graziano, 15, was allegedly kidnapped by her father, Anthony John Graziano, 45. He killed his estranged wifeSavannah's mother, on September 26, 2022, The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office He said then.
An Amber Alert issued to Savannah after the murder was discovered described her father as an “unarmed and dangerous” suspect. When deputies found his truck, a car chase and shootout ensued, resulting in the deaths of Savannah and her father.
After the shooting, Sheriff Shannon Diggs said a man, believed to be Savannah, got out of the passenger side of the vehicle wearing tactical gear and a “As a participant In firing on our representatives.”
However, newly released video from the incident does not show the teenager in tactical gear and reveals she obeyed the deputies' instructions to approach them.
VideoThe sheriff's department released Friday Southern California News Group In response to a California Public Records Act request, Savannah is shown crouching down and slowly approaching deputies as she is hit by officers' fire.
Efforts to reach several members of the Graziano family for comment on the new video were unsuccessful Tuesday.
Shooting
A 911 caller reported seeing a suspicious pickup truck belonging to Anthony John Graziano in the area of Highway 395 and Highway 58. Around Barstow on the morning of Sept. 27, 2022, the sheriff's office said at the time.
Deputies located the pickup truck and chased it down the highway for about 45 miles. Throughout the chase, someone from the vehicle “kept shooting at the deputies” through the rear window, Dickus said, putting rounds through the windshield of the patrol car and disabling a second patrol vehicle.
A pickup truck stalled on the shoulder of a highway in the town of Hesperia and the shooting began. A passenger later confirmed that Savannah got out of the vehicle. Digus said during the incident that the girl was wearing tactical gear when she got out of the passenger side of the truck and ran toward sheriff's deputies and fell to the ground amid gunfire. Deputies initially didn't realize Savannah was running toward them because he was wearing a helmet and military uniform.
New video from an aerial view showed a white pickup truck reversing before driving onto the shoulder of the road.
A man got out of the passenger side of the vehicle as a voice was heard from the helicopter overhead: “Female Juvi is out. She is on the passenger side. Anyone else have eyes on the vehicle?
Although the video was shot from a distance, Savannah does not appear to be wearing a vest or tactical gear.
The video shows Savannah take several steps toward the patrol vehicle, then crouch and pause. Several deputies, guns in hand, were seen near the patrol vehicle.
Seconds later, Savannah gets up and takes a few more steps, and then her body is blurred in the video — most likely indicating the moment she was shot. And as the crowd of deputies rushes to a nearby patrol car, the voice on the audio is heard saying, “Oh, no.”
The sheriff's office also released the seatbelt footage of the deputy closest to Savannah as she got out of the truck. “Passengers, get out! Passengers, get out!” and “Come here! Come here! Come to me; come to me!”
“Stop! Stop shooting her. He's in the car!” shouted the vice-chancellor. “She's fine! He is in the car. Stop!”
Based on the audio, Savannah appears to have obeyed the deputy's instructions to come toward him when he was shot.
Deputies immediately administered medical aid and Savannah was transported to a hospital where she died from her injuries.
Her father was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Graciano and Savannah were both struck by the sub-rounds and died of their injuries,” the introduction to one of the videos reads. Press-Enterprise Riverside's newspaper obtained the video.
The California Department of Justice has taken over the investigation into the shooting.
The sheriff's office had no comment on the case Tuesday, citing a judicial investigation. The state attorney general's office noted its origin Report When asked for comment on the case.
