By admin 
SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) — Santa Ana police released body camera video on Wednesday showing the moments before officers shot and killed 15-year-old Jaden Michaca last month after responding to what his family says was a mental health crisis.
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The video shows officers entering the home on the night of June 14 after receiving a 911 call from Jaden’s stepfather, who told dispatchers the teen had a history of mental illness and was experiencing another episode that he feared was dangerous for both himself and Jaden’s mother.
“And I’m afraid, like, they can hurt her mom, or they can came over me,” the stepfather told dispatchers.
When officers arrived, they found the stepfather outside, bleeding from his arm.
“He already locked the door. He stabbed me with the knife,” he told officers.
“He stabbed you?” an officer responded.
Inside the home, bodycam video captured Jaden’s mother desperately pleading with her son in Spanish to drop the knife in his hands.
“Deja el cuchillo! Deja el cuchillo!” she said.
Officers then forced their way inside and ordered Jaden to drop the knife.
The video shows Jaden saying he wanted officers to shoot. Police said Jaden refused to drop the knife and then stepped toward officers.
“Hey brother. We’re here to help! We’re here to help you!” an officer said moments before police opened fire.
SEE ALSO: Family of Santa Ana 15-year-old killed by police files legal claim against city
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Jaden’s family says the shooting was not justified. Last month, the family filed a claim against the city alleging negligence and unjustified use of deadly force.
“I yelled to the cops, ‘Please do not shoot. Please do not shoot,'” said Maribel Michaca, Jaden’s mother.
The family’s attorney said the incident should have been handled as a mental health emergency, not a deadly force encounter.
“They knew that they were supposed to take certain steps and they disregarded all of that, and they decided that using and resorting to deadly force was the acceptable option,” the attorney said.
Santa Ana police maintain that officers did not know Jaden’s mental health history when they responded that night. Police said the shooting remains under separate investigations by the department’s Internal Affairs Unit, its Homicide Detail and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
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