For release on January 6, 2023
CONTACT:
Rob Baker
Deputy District Attorney
(408) 792-2873
[email protected]
DA Report: SJPD Snipers Legally Kill Armed Man
Who Murdered Two People in Front of Kidnapped Children
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has determined that two San Jose police officers lawfully shot and killed a man who had murdered a friend and an ex-girlfriend in front of his kidnapped children, pistol whipped his kidnapped grandmother, led police on a high-speed chase, and shot at officers.
Using a helicopter, robot, and two tactical vehicles, body worn camera footage shows police surrounded Raymond Calderon in a shed in San Jose for hours. Two SJPD snipers shot him with one bullet each as he ran from the shed pointing a loaded pistol at one of the officers.
Prosecutor Robert Baker concluded in a 27-page public report: “Lieutenant Robert Lang and Officer Edward Carboni showed exemplary courage and skill in their tactical response to an armed and dangerous gang member who went on a drug-fueled, murderous rampage. These two highly trained police snipers undoubtedly saved not only their own lives, but also the lives of the innocent men, women, and children living in that neighborhood.”
The District Attorney’s Office investigates all fatal law enforcement encounters to determine if the lethal force was legal. By law, officers are allowed to use deadly force when they or others are faced with imminent danger.
On June 21, 2022, Calderon, while under the influence of multiple illegal drugs, kidnapped his grandmother and two of his sons from a community pool in San Jose. He fled, driving a red Ford F-150. With his three captives in the truck, Calderon drove to the home of his friend Freddy Herrera in San Jose. There, he forced his captives to watch him shoot Herrera in the back of the head, killing him. Immediately afterward, Calderon drove to Modesto where Michelle Gonzalez, his ex-girlfriend and mother of another one of his children lived. There, he forced his captives to watch him shoot and kill Gonzalez. During the drive to and from Modesto, Calderon repeatedly pistol-whipped his grandmother. Upon returning to San Jose, Calderon kicked his captives out of the car and led SJPD on a lengthy pursuit. Eventually, Calderon crashed the truck into a fence near Bendorf Drive. He shot bullets at police officers while fleeing on foot and found cover inside a shed in the back yard of a nearby home. After an hours-long standoff, Calderon emerged from the shed and aimed a 9mm semiautomatic handgun directly at SJPD Lieutenant Robert Lang, who was positioned atop an armored police vehicle. In response to this threat, Lieutenant Lang and Officer Carboni each fired — nearly simultaneously — one bullet at Calderon using their tactical rifles. One bullet hit Calderon in the head and the other hit him in the chest. Calderon later died at the hospital from the gunshot wounds.
A toxicology analysis showed that Calderon’s blood contained marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and amphetamine.
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