An intense bodycam video captured by prosecutors in California shows the moment a suspect fired at an officer before his colleague returned fire, hitting the man in the head.
The shooting that killed 22-year-old Matthew-Tuan Ahn Tran took place on August 6, 2021, in front of the La Habra Police Department’s main office in the Los Angeles region.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, a woman contacted 911 that evening to report that Tran, whom she had never seen before, was tailgating and following her as she made her way home from work. The motorist was directed to stop in front of the police station by La Habra dispatchers. Tran followed, pulling up behind the woman’s car, getting out, and making his way to the building’s entrance.
“What is happening here?” After arriving on the scene and approaching Tran, La Habra Officer Mark Milward can be heard asking.
Tran replies, “Uh, I’m just seeing someone right now.
Milward’s body camera captures him turning around and heading back toward the two cars after questioning Tran whether he was connected to the two that had pulled up outside the door, which Tran claims he was not.
They’ll catch you in a second, he assures.
Milward then turns around in the video to see Tran aiming a gun at him. Then Tran starts firing.
Milward is struck by a gunshot and falls to the ground while wailing in agony.
Officer Milward was hit in the right upper chest by a gunshot that “pierced Officer Milward’s protective vest,” according to the prosecution.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Officer Abigail Fox, Milward’s partner, “pulled her revolver and fired five rounds in fast succession at Tran,” one of which “hit him in the head and caused him to collapse to the ground.”
After being taken into custody and disarmed, Tran was later declared dead at the scene by additional police and emergency personnel.
After Tran passed away, an autopsy revealed that he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system.
Fox responded to the situation in a “reasonable and justifiable manner,” according to the district attorney’s office.
Mckourage