Man Dies After Officer Involved Shooting In Walnut Creek Sunday

A local man with mental health issues briefly terrorized family members and neighboring residents of a Walnut Creek neighborhood before challenging responding officers with a metal pole –  shaking off hits from non-lethal beanbag rounds before he was brought down by police gunfire Sunday.

The man, identified by the Contra Costa County coroner’s office as Miles Hall, 23, was seriously wounded but reportedly attempting to get up again when officers swarmed over him to make an arrest, providing life-saving measures after Hall lost consciousness.

He was rushed to John Muir Hospital but was declared deceased there, police said. Two officers reportedly opened fire on the 23-year-old and five have been placed on administrative leave as Walnut Creek police and the Contra Costa County district attorney’s office investigate the shooting.

Walnut Creek police have mentioned plans to release body-cam footage of the shooting at a later date.

They said at least four 911 calls were made to police starting at 4:41 p.m. with a caller reporting that her grandson came into her home on Sandra Court and was making threats. The dispatcher heard a man yelling in the background, police said.

Two 911 calls apparently came from Hall’s grandmother and mother, who told law enforcement he had broken a sliding-glass window, was acting violently and had threatened family members at their home with a metal pole.

Police gave a timeline of events for the shooting thusly:

(We) are investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place today, June 2, after multiple 911 calls regarding a disturbance at a home on Sandra Court. The first 911 call was received at 4:41 p.m. The caller said her grandson came into her room and threatened her. The dispatcher could hear a male voice yelling in the background. At 4:42 p.m., Walnut Creek Police received a call from a nearby resident, who said he could hear an argument and possibly a gunshot. At 4:47 p.m., WCPD spoke to a second resident from where the disturbance was occurring. The caller reported her son was being violent and threatened her with a metal pole. The woman said her son has mental health problems and will be aggressive with police. The woman said he broke a sliding glass window and had a metal pole with a pointed end.

Officers arrived at 4:52 p.m. At 4:53 P.M., WCPD dispatch received another 911 call from another resident on Sandra Court. The caller said a man was pounding on his front door, had a red bandana over his head and face, and a giant crow bar in his hand.

Officers searched the neighborhood and found a man with a long pry bar with a pointed end walking on Arlene Lane towards a residence. Officers gave multiple commands, ordering him to drop the pry bar. He ignored those commands, and ran towards the officers with the pry bar. One officer shot multiple less-than-lethal kinetic energy rounds (also referred to as bean bags) at the man. He continued to run at the officers, resulting in two officers firing their handguns at him. He was struck and fell to the ground, but attempted to get up. Officers were able to subdue him, and provided lifesaving measures, including CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene. He was transported to John Muir Hospital where he later died from his injuries. His family has been notified. The Coroner’s office will be releasing his name. The Walnut Creek Police Department is deeply saddened by this event as any loss of life is tragic.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Walnut Creek Police Department are actively working on this ongoing investigation. The five officers who were on scene will be interviewed and placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation. We anticipate releasing the officer’s Body Worn Camera footage on a later date.

If anyone has information regarding this crime please call Walnut Creek Police Department immediately at 925-935-6400 or Detective Greg Leonard at 925-256-3523.