CONCORD — The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has concluded Concord police officers were justified in fatally shooting a man who was stabbing his father, officials announced Friday.
The finding that officers acted in self defense and in the self defense of others was the result of multiple interviews and a review of officers’ body camera recordings and means the five officers involved will not face any criminal charges.
The five officers who fired their firearms at one time or another during the Feb. 18 encounter were Sgt. Chris Souza, Corporal Daniel Padilla and officers Roy Olson, Keny Rodriguez and David Rodriguez. Killed was 47-year-old Nathan Lee Keesler of Antioch.
According to a report released by the district attorney’s office Friday, police initially got a 911 call about 1:38 a.m. Feb. 18 from Keesler’s mother. She reported that Keesler was at her home in the 1900 block of Natoma Boulevard and stabbing her husband with a knife. The mother further stated that her son was “broke” and had previously been placed on a psychiatric hold.
According to the DA’s report, at 1:42 a.m. Officer Olson was the first officer to arrive on scene and spoke briefly to the mother who was standing outside and told him to enter the home through the garage. Sgt. Souza was the second officer to arrive and prior to entering the home he told Olson to arm himself with a firearm, while he would equip himself with a taser device.
Additional officers arrived, entered the garage, and prepared themselves to enter into the home, according to prosecutors. Officer Olson tried to open the door that led into the home, but discovered it was locked. He kicked the door open and announced his presence as a police officer by stating, “Nathan, Concord Police.” Multiple uniformed officers followed Olson, proceeded into the kitchen and entered a nearby hallway.
As Olson entered the hallway he saw Keesler stabbing his father with a large kitchen knife. His father was laying on his side on the floor of the living room, while Keesler was on his knees, next to his father. Keesler stabbed at his father using a downward swinging gesture, the reports says. Olson yelled, “Drop the knife,” as Keesler stabbed at his father, according to the report.
Keesler did not drop the knife, prompting Olson to fire his handgun three times at Keesler, who fell face down on the floor, just in front of his father, with the knife still in his right hand, according to the DA’s office. Olson moved toward Keesler to kick the knife away, at which point Keesler suddenly pushed himself up with his left hand and swung the knife at Olson, the report says.
In response, Olson, Officer Keny Rodriguez, Officer David Rodriguez, and Corporal Padilla all fired their handguns at Keesler multiple times, while Sgt. Souza discharged his taser. Keesler fell to the floor with multiple gunshot wounds.
Olson then walked toward the father, grabbed his right wrist and started pulling him away from Keesler who again pushed himself up, grabbed the kitchen knife and held the blade in his hand, the report says.
Officers yelled at Keesler to drop the knife, but he kept the knife in his hand and began to shift his legs. Olson and Souza fired their handguns at Keesler. He was later declared deceased in the home.
His father was stabbed multiple times and also sustained a non-fatal gunshot injury resulting from his close proximity to his son during the shooting. He was hospitalized for a time but has since been released. The family has been notified of the district attorney’s finding, the report says.