Orange mass shooting: Bodycam footage won't be released, DA says it could 'compromise investigation
ORANGE, Calif. - The Orange Police Department had planned to release body-worn camera footage of the deadly mass shooting that occurred in March, however during a brief press conference officials said video will no longer be released as it could compromise their investigation.
The police department scheduled a press conference Wednesday for 11:30 a.m. but after keeping reporters waiting for over an hour, Lt. Jennifer Amat with the Orange Police Department came out to say the body camera footage from the responding officers will not be released to the media or public.
She says Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer notified the police chief that releasing any video could "impact the successful criminal prosecution of the case."
The DA’s office is part of the investigation and has reviewed the footage.
Lt. Amat did provide an update to the condition of the remaining victim and suspect. The female victim, the child’s mother, is said to be in stable condition at the hospital. The suspect, Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez, 44, of Fullerton, also remains at the hospital in stable condition.
"This is one of the most significant and tragic shootings to occur in the City of Orange. The department has committed a tremendous amount of time and resources in the follow up investigation," Lt. Jennifer Amat said.
His arraignment has been postponed yet again.
RELATED: Arraignment remains delayed for man suspected in Orange mass shooting
On March 31, authorities said Gonzalez locked the gates surrounding the Unified Homes office building, trapping the victims inside before going on a shooting rampage.
Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez, 44, of Fullerton
Gaxiola had personal and business relationships with the victims. His estranged wife had worked in the business for more than 10 years as a broker assistant.
RELATED:
- Orange mass shooting suspect charged with 4 counts of murder; victims identified
- Orange mass shooting victims identified
- Arraignment delayed again for accused Orange mass shooting suspect
- Suspect in Orange mass shooting was barred from buying gun
He was charged with four counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and two felony counts of attempted murder of a police officer. Gaxiola’s arraignment has been repeatedly postponed because he remains hospitalized and unable to communicate with his court-appointed attorneys.
Police said they obtained footage from a surveillance video from inside the office building that shows the suspect inside the building, but investigators initially did not release the video.
Surveillance video captures suspect Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez inside Unified Homes office building in Orange, police say.
On the evening of the shooting, Gaxiola arrived at the office building, located at 202 West Lincoln Avenue, in a rental car which was later discovered in the parking lot.
Responding officers arrived at the scene two minutes after the first 911 call but found the front and back wrought iron gates had been locked from the inside with a bicycle-type cable lock so they were not immediately able to get onto the premises in order to get to engage the suspect.
Two officers spotted the suspect in the courtyard, and the shooting that left the suspect wounded happened through the gate before they were able to get inside, authorities said.
A sergeant who responded to the scene had bolt cutters in the squad car that officers used to lop off the locks.
After officers gained access to the courtyard, they tended to the suspect and woman injured in the shooting who survived. She was holding the deceased 9-year-old boy in her arms when officers found her. Officers eventually found three more deceased victims. One woman was found on an upstairs outdoor landing; one man was found inside an office building; another woman was found inside a separate building.
Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.
Police recovered a semi-automatic handgun inside the complex, along with a backpack containing pepper spray, handcuffs and ammunition believed to belong to the suspect.
The victims were identified by police as 50-year-old company co-owner Luis Tovar, his daughter, 28-year-old Jenevieve Raygoza, and 9-year-old Matthew Farias, and company employee Leticia SolisGuzman, 58.
Under California law, Gaxiola should not have been allowed to buy or own guns. California law prohibits people from purchasing weapons for 10 years after being convicted of a crime. Gaxiola was convicted of battery in 2015, which should have kept him from possessing or buying guns or ammo at stores that conduct background checks. While it’s unclear how Gaxiola acquired the weapons used in the shooting, the tragedy raises concerns over California’s ability to enforce strict gun control laws.