Tracy Gaeta fatally shot by police; family claims excessive force

Legal professionals representing relations of a California grandmother who was fatally shot by police in February after she backed her automotive right into a police car accused the division of extreme drive this week.

Tracy Gaeta, 54, died after a Okay-9 officer recognized by police officers as Kyle Ribera fired greater than two dozen photographs into her automotive on Feb. 22, in keeping with police and physique digicam footage launched this month.

“Like too many Black ladies throughout this nation, Tracy Gaeta is one more sufferer of preventable police violence,” Angelina Austin, an lawyer on the agency representing Gaeta’s household, stated in a press release this week.

The incident started when a driver later recognized as Gaeta struck one other police officer’s automotive whereas it was stopped at a pink mild and drove off, the Stockton Police Division stated in a video assertion launched this month. The officer notified dispatch that the driving force was presumably a Black man who was about 50 years outdated.

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After Gaeta fled the scene, police stated her automotive was discovered at a dead-end street by Okay-9 officer Kyle Ribera. 

Police physique digicam footage reveals Ribera park behind Gaeta’s car and start to exit the automotive together with his gun drawn whereas yelling “Arms up!”

Gaeta’s car then backed into the police automotive, inflicting Ribera to fall again into the automotive.

“He is ramming me,” Ribera says earlier than exiting the car once more and firing greater than a dozen photographs into the again of Gaeta’s automotive, shattering the again windshield.

Video reveals Ribera change his weapon’s clip and yell “Put your palms up.”

The officer then fired one other volley of photographs into Gaeta’s car — with bullets shattering home windows on the drivers facet — because the automotive pulled ahead after which swung again towards Ribera.

Gaeta was transported to a hospital, the place she died from her accidents. Ribera obtained medical therapy for a head and hand damage, police stated.

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In a press release to USA TODAY, Stockton police stated a multi-agency investigation into the incident is underway and would require a remaining evaluation by the District Legal professional’s Workplace. The Stockton police union didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Ribera was positioned on three-day paid administrative go away following the incident however has since returned to work, in keeping with police assertion.

“Stockton PD has shortly moved to face by Officer Ribera quite than maintain him accountable,” Jayme Walker, an lawyer on the agency representing Gaeta’s household, stated in a press release this week.

Walker added that “Nationally acknowledged requirements prohibit officers from firing at transferring autos absent essentially the most compelling circumstances.”

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A Stockton Police Division coverage from 2019 “typically prohibits capturing at a fleeing car.”

“Selections to fireplace at transferring autos should be based mostly on essentially the most compelling circumstances,” in keeping with the coverage.

Gaeta’s daughter, Tressie Gaeta, remembered her as a “loving, caring mom and grandmother” who “at all times knew tips on how to put a smile in your face,” in keeping with the assertion from household legal professionals.

“My youngsters and I are going to overlook her tremendously,” Tressie Gaeta stated. “I hope that we are able to discover justice as a result of she didn’t should die like that”.

Gaeta’s son, Alex Gaeta Jr., referred to as his mom “heat hearted” and a “sort soul” who “at all times noticed the sunshine in others.”

“I’m so distraught and beside myself making an attempt to know why such a violent extreme use of drive was used to deal with this example,” he stated within the assertion. “I simply need justice for my mom.”

Contact Information Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or comply with her on Twitter at @christinetfern.