The fatal police shootings of Caleb Smith, Joshua Gloria and Agustin Gosalez in Southern Alameda County are set to be revisited by the newly elected county prosecutor.
On Jan. 31, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced the creation of a Public Accountability Unit and the intention to review eight previously closed cases involving fatal police shootings and in-custody deaths. No charges were filed in the closed cases.
“We have seen many thoughts and prayers being bandied about the police murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee. The people of Tennessee want accountability – and so do the people of Alameda County,” Price said in a statement. “I promised accountability. This unit and its work are the start of the reckoning Alameda County has asked for holding people accountable for their misconduct.”
Among the cases being reopened are those of Smith, who was fatally shot by members of the Hayward Police Department in 2021; Gloria, who was fatally shot by a member of the Fremont Police Department in 2021; and Gonsalez, who was fatally shot by Hayward police officers in 2019.
Three of the six total officer-involved shooting cases being re-examined were reviewed recently under the direction of former District Attorney Nancy O’Malley with findings in December that no criminal charges were justified, the release stated.
“These reports were released at the 11th hour, just weeks before I took office. As the top prosecutor, I want to give each case a thorough review to ensure justice has not been forgotten,” Price said. “I’ve made sure that my Office has attempted to reached out to each of the families of the deceased. The healing process cannot begin until we do our due diligence.”
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