Isiah Murrietta-Golding, a 16-year-old from Fresno, California, tragically lost his life on April 16, 2017, following a fatal encounter with the Fresno Police Department. The incident occurred when Isiah, who was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by the police, fled the scene. He was pursued by officers and ultimately shot in the back of the head by Sgt. Ray Villalvazo as he attempted to scale a fence at a daycare center.
The police had suspected Isiah and his brother of being involved in a homicide, although Isiah was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
The shooting sparked significant controversy and led to multiple investigations. The Fresno Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office, and the City of Fresno's Office of Independent Review all conducted reviews of the incident. Despite public outrage and the release of surveillance and body camera footage showing the shooting, all three reviews concluded that the use of lethal force was justified. The footage, which showed another officer complimenting Villalvazo on the shot as Isiah lay dying, further fueled community anger and calls for justice.
In response to the incident, Isiah's family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Fresno, Police Chief Jerry Dyer, Sgt. Ray Villalvazo, and other unnamed officers. The lawsuit alleged violations of Isiah's constitutional rights under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as state law claims for negligence and assault and battery. The case highlighted the broader issues of police use of force and accountability within the Fresno Police Department.
In 2021, the City of Fresno agreed to a $4.9 million settlement with Isiah's family, marking one of the largest settlements in the city's history. The settlement was part of a broader effort by the city to address and resolve claims of excessive force by its police officers. Despite the financial settlement, the Fresno County District Attorney's office declined to file criminal charges against Sgt. Villalvazo, maintaining that the shooting was a justified use of deadly force.
The aftermath of Isiah's death also saw scrutiny of his family's actions. His mother, Christina Lopez, was later investigated and accused of using the settlement money to fund criminal activities within the city. This development added another layer of complexity to an already tragic and contentious case, underscoring the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding police conduct and community relations in Fresno.
