Body camera footage shows what became a fatal officer-involved shooting after a man who was a patient at the Polk County Life Services Center stabbed a security guard on Feb. 19.
“[A] patient’s attacking people,” a 911 caller from the Broadlawns Crisis Observation Center, 1914 Carpenter Ave., told a dispatcher on Feb. 19, panting and out of breath. “With his hands, I think, I don’t know for sure.”
“Somebody has stabbed a security officer,” another caller said. “We need the police as soon as possible.”
Police officer Christian Escobar was the first on the scene, where he saw Hunter Munoz, 24, in the center’s parking lot with blood on his face. He was breathing heavily and had two Taser probes in the front of his coat, a report from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office said.
Munoz had been taken to the crisis center for mental health issues by a family member, Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham said in her report. The attorney general’s report said he had not been taking his medication.
Munoz had been pepper-sprayed by the security guard he stabbed in the chest and shoulder. The guard also deployed a Taser against Munoz. Escobar drew his handgun, ordering Munoz to put his hands up and get on his knees.
“It’s alright,” Escobar tells Munoz, then repeating multiple times, “Get down on your knees.”
“You’re going to have to shoot me,” Munoz told Escobar, and began walking toward him.
“No, I don’t,” Escobar said. “Get down on your knees.”
Escobar attempted to descealte the interaction.
“My name’s Christian,” Escobar said. “You’re good. You’re not in any trouble. Just get down on your knees.”
Munoz told Escobar the knife was in his back pocket, and he eventually moved into the intersection of Carpetener Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.
Officers James Gano and David Chase arrived on the scene. Chase drew his Taser, and Munoz again said, “You’re going to have to shoot me.”
Munoz reached for his knife, and Chase deployed his Taser against Munoz, who grabbed the knife from his back pocket and began running toward Escobar.
Escobar and Gano fired their handguns at Munoz, who fell to the ground and was handcuffed. Officers immediately began life-saving efforts at the scene, including applying wound seals, until medics arrived. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Officers Escobar, Gano and Chase were placed on administrative assignment during the investigation.
The security guard was taken to the hospital and later released.
Both the Polk County Attorney and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office concluded the officers’ use of force was legally justified.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Body cams show suspect run at police with knife before fatal shooting
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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