Nationwide — Jaque Rabon, a 23-year-old African American man from Riverside, California, was shot and killed by local sheriff’s deputies on January 22. His family has since filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, alleging that deputies used excessive force against him even though no weapon was found. The lawsuit comes months after deputies opened fire during a foot chase at a Riverside shopping center. Rabon’s family and attorney, Dale Galipo, announced the legal action outside the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and called for accountability and transparency.
According to KTLA, deputies had responded to a 911 call from someone who reportedly said Rabon had threatened them and might be armed. Authorities also knew he had a no-bail warrant tied to a robbery and assault case. The department sent a specialized team to the shopping center to arrest him.
Body camera footage released by the Sheriff’s Department shows a deputy stepping out of an unmarked vehicle and ordering Rabon to show his hands. Rabon then ran through the parking lot while deputies chased him. The footage captures several gunshots within seconds, followed by someone yelling, “Cease fire!” The department said Rabon reached toward a bag during the chase despite repeated commands to stop. Officials also highlighted a frame that they said showed a black object in his hand when the first shots were fired.
Authorities said Rabon fell after the initial gunfire but continued reaching toward the bag and appeared to manipulate it. Deputies then fired additional shots. No weapon was found on Rabon. Galipo has questioned whether reaching toward a bag justified the use of deadly force, arguing that people routinely carry bags in shopping areas. He said the lawsuit seeks accountability over the circumstances of the shooting.
Rabon was remembered by his mother as an aspiring rapper and someone who regularly supported his family. She described him as “a giver” and said the family could always depend on him. The Sheriff’s Department referred questions about the lawsuit to its previously released critical incident video and said the California Department of Justice took over the investigation after the shooting. The department said it has fully cooperated by providing evidence and video. The investigation into Rabon’s death remains ongoing.