original video:

1. https://pomf2.lain.la/f/pboa7xs5.mp4

Tustin, California, United States

January 8, 2023

On Sunday, January 8, 2023, at approximately 7:32 a.m., the SAPD received a 9-1-1 call of a suspicious subject at 902 West Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana. The subject, later identified as Mejia, was reportedly walking down the street with a large butcher knife in his hand. The Reporting Party (RP) indicated the subject was bleeding from his hand.

In an interview with OCDA investigators, Officer Diaz stated that due to all the blood on Mejia and the knife in his hand, Officer Diaz thought Mejia had just stabbed or killed someone. Officer Diaz saw Mejia run toward Officer Newman and Officer Sanchez. It appeared Mejia was going to “attack the officers.” He stated he heard five to eight gunshots and was under the assumption that both Officer Newman and Officer Sanchez fired their handguns. He saw Mejia fall to the street, still holding the knife.

John Doe 1, one of Mejia's roommates, told Detective Schaller that Mejia was speaking on the phone the night prior to the shooting. This conversation was apparently between Mejia and his daughter who lives in El Salvador. John Doe 1 overhead Mejia asking his daughter for “forgiveness for what he did” and that he was going to turn himself into the police. Mejia also seemed to be acting paranoid by stating people were after him and accused his roommates of trying to kill his daughters.

Another roommate, John Doe 2, stated that approximately two months prior to the shooting Mejia had cut his wrist. Mejia was transported to a hospital where he stayed for almost three weeks.

On February 15, 2021, Mejia attempted suicide by driving his car into a pole. College Hospital Costa Mesa medical records indicated a history of suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behavior. As a result, Mejia was placed on a mental health hold for several days.

https://orangecountyda.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/OIS-Clemente-De-Garay-Mejia-correction.pdf