Christopher Mercurio

Date: 1/11/2023          Location: Valencia, CA         FACTORS (1,2,4,5,12,14,15,19)      

Name: Christopher Lee Mercurio                              

Criminal History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes, Mercurio was trespassing and assaulted a law enforcement officer.

Mental Illness: Yes, Mercurio’s actions were irrational and suicidal. When the deputy threatened to shoot Mercurio, he said “shoot” and continued to advance at her.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/50

Officer(s) involved: Unnamed Santa Clarita Valley’s Sheriff’s Station Deputy                              

What prompted the initial contact with police? At around 10:50 p.m. on January 10, 2023, Santa Clarita Valley Station Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 911 call of a man trespassing at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. The first to arrive, a female deputy encountered the man, Christopher Mercurio and asked him to leave the premises.

Actions taken by subject towards police: Mercurio refused to comply with the deputy’s lawful order and instead he threatened to kill her and then assaulted her by punching her “in the face and head.”

Reactions by the police: The deputy fought off Mercurio’s attack, moved away from him and pointed her firearm at him warning that if he tried to attack her again, she would shoot him. When Mercurio failed to heed her warning and tried to assault her again, the deputy shot him twice, killing him.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: Per state law, AB 1506, the California Department of Justice is investigating the shooting.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Mercurio could still be alive today if he was not trespassing at the shopping center; complied with the deputy’s orders and walked away; did not assault the deputy; did not cause the deputy to fear for her life.

Miscellaneous: The incident is caught on the deputy’s body camera and clearly shows how she tried to de-escalate the situation. The deputy was transported to the hospital to treat the injuries to her face and head from Mercurio’s assault.

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, having already been assaulted and injured by an irrational and suicidal male while alone at night, the deputy reasonably feared for her life and used justified deadly force to stop the deadly threat posed by the approaching Christopher Mercurio.