ANAHEIM, Calif. — A newlywed killed by police after he stepped outside his home to confront suspected burglars was shot in a case of mistaken identity, police said.
Julian Alexander died after being shot twice in the chest by a police officer who was chasing four burglary suspects early Tuesday morning.
Police Chief John Welter said the officer ran into Alexander, mistook him for one of the four juvenile suspects and shot him.
"The last thing we ever want to do, No. 1, (is) take somebody's life," he said. "And we certainly don't want to take the life of someone who is mistakenly believed to be involved in some criminal activity."
"He was a good kid, trying to protect his house," said Alexander's mother-in-law Michelle Mooney. "And the police, instead of asking questions, they just shot first. Somebody has to be held responsible for this."
Welter would not release the officer's name, but said he was a 10-year veteran of the department. The officer was placed on paid leave pending an investigation.
"It's mistaken identity, but that doesn't bring my son back," said Alexander's father Jerry.
He said Alexander got married last weekend and his 19-year-old wife is expecting a baby in December.
Back in the 70's I had a friend who was a police officer in Anaheim, and I went on three different ride-alongs with him as he worked his West Anaheim patrol area. I don't envy any police officer the snap decisions they have to make. It's a terrible position to be in for all involved. A family has lost a loved one, and the officer will have to live with that decision the rest of his life, even if at the moment in question it appeared to him to be justified.
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