Juan Luis Olvera-Preciado, 59, was killed on August 21, 2021, in Guadalupe, California, when a bullet fired by a pursuing officer struck him after ricocheting off the ground. Officers from the Guadalupe Police Department were attempting to apprehend a suspect who had started a small fire earlier that night. Officer Miguel Jaimes fired three shots at the suspect, who ignored commands and made a motion as if he had a weapon; none of those rounds hit the suspect. One round traveled about 174 feet after striking the ground, entered through a slightly ajar car door and caused a fatal head wound to Olvera-Preciado, an innocent bystander sitting in his car.

The California Department of Justice investigated the officer-involved shooting as required by Assembly Bill 1506 and concluded the evidence did not support criminal charges against Officer Jaimes. The DOJ report noted Olvera-Preciado was not visible to officers during the pursuit and described the shooting as an unintended consequence of the officer’s actions in a high-stress situation. The DOJ also issued policy and practice recommendations to the Guadalupe Police Department, including improved training for high-risk situations and better communication during pursuits.

Olvera-Preciado’s family pursued civil action; in June 2023 the City of Guadalupe agreed to a $4 million wrongful death settlement with the family. Did anyone in Guadalupe see or hear the pursuit that evening, or know more about Olvera-Preciado’s movements before the shooting?