Investigation and review determine there is insufficient evidence to support criminal charges
DOJ issues policy and practice recommendations related to incident
OAKLAND –California Attorney General Rob Bonta — pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506) — today released a report on the death of Matthew James Sova. Sova was fatally shot by two Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers on July 15, 2021. After a thorough investigation and comprehensive review of the evidence, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) has determined that he is not there was insufficient evidence to support the criminal charges. As required by AB 1506, the Attorney General has also issued specific policy and practice recommendations related to the incident.
“In 2020, the Legislature gave my office a critical new responsibility to conduct independent investigations and reviews of officer-involved shootings,” Attorney General Bonta said. “I was proud to co-author the legislation when I was in the State Assembly and I’m honored to help carry out the work as Attorney General.” It is essential to the people of California that we provide a fair, thorough and transparent process. Since July 2021, when the law took effect, my office has been hard at work, launching our first investigation into the tragic shooting death of Matthew James Sova. This investigation and review is now complete, and my office has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support the criminal charges. But make no mistake: there is no scenario where the loss of someone’s life to violence is something we should accept as the normal course of events. As part of our work under AB 1506, my office also issues specific recommendations to the LAPD on steps they can and should take to help prevent these types of incidents from happening in the future. I am grateful to everyone involved for their willingness to work with my office throughout this process. We at the California Department of Justice will continue to fight and advocate for the change we need, and my heart goes out to Mr. Sova’s family, friends and loved ones.
On July 15, 2021, LAPD officers Christopher Tabela and Isaiah Galvez responded to a call about a man with a gun on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. They contacted Matthew James Sova, who pointed what appeared to be a pistol, but was actually a lighter that looked like a gun, at Constable Tabela. Officers shot Sova. The DOJ investigated and reviewed the shooting that resulted in Sova’s death pursuant to Section 12525.3 of the California Government Code, which was enacted subsequent to AB 1506. The report released today is the final step in DOJ’s review of the fatal shooting, and is limited only to determining whether criminal charges should be brought against the officers involved, and any policy and practice recommendations. Although the report does not encompass or comment on any potential administrative or civil action, it does contain a detailed summary of the incident and investigation, in-depth legal analysis, and policy and practice recommendations made to the LAPD.
The DOJ conducted a full, objective, and independent investigation into the death of Matthew James Sova. A total of seven unsworn emergency response personnel and 13 civilian witnesses were interviewed, and one incident scene was processed for evidence. Overall, hundreds of hours of investigation were conducted by the DOJ, LAPD, DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services, and LAPD Crime Lab. As part of the investigation of the incident, the evidence analyzed included, among others, police reports, witness statements, body-worn camera footage, surveillance footage, the autopsy report, medical records and photographs. After a detailed analysis, the Department concluded that there was substantial evidence that Officers Galvez and Tabela acted in self-defense and for the defense of others. Therefore, according to applicable legal standards, there is insufficient evidence to initiate criminal proceedings.
Separately, as required by AB 1506, the Attorney General issued several policy and practice recommendations to the LAPD in relation to the incident. Among these recommendations, the LAPD should:
- Ensure that staff are informed and trained on the policies, processes, and procedures related to the engagement of the LAPD Mental Assessment Unit, and, in particular, how and when dispatchers and officers alert and coordinate with these units when responding to situations involving people with potential mental illness. crisis;
- Given the initial call to 911 for assistance, undertake a review of specific events to assess whether the harm to Sova and the potential risk to officers could have been avoided;
- Similarly, assess whether other resources should have been deployed to deal with a possible mental health crisis, as this could have given officers time to engage in meaningful de-escalation or other tactical operations;
- Determine if LAPD policies, processes, procedures, and training for developing tactical action plans were properly executed in this case, as both officers transitioned to lethal response almost immediately upon arriving on the scene. premises ;
- Develop guidelines for officers to help them develop techniques for using deadly force in a manner that minimizes the risk of harming each other and innocent bystanders in crowded places in such circumstances; and
- Ensure all staff are aware of and trained in the LAPD’s Use of Force Policy, which requires officers to use deadly force only “when they reasonably believe, based on all of the circumstances , that such a force is necessary for the defense of human life”.
The DOJ—per AB 1506—is required to investigate all officer shooting incidents resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state. Historically, these critical incidents in California were handled primarily by local law enforcement and the state’s 58 district attorneys. However, signed on September 30, 2020 and effective July 1, 2021, AB 1506 provides the DOJ with an important tool to directly help build and maintain trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. by creating a mandate for an independent body. , state’s attorney to investigate and review the officer shootings that resulted in the deaths of unarmed civilians across California. More information on the roles and responsibilities of the California Department of Justice under AB 1506 is available here: https://oag.ca.gov/ois-incidents.
A copy of the report released today is available here.