FRESNO, Calif. — The family of Jeremy Raul Sanchez, 35, who was shot and killed by a state parole officer on Christmas Eve 2024, has filed a civil lawsuit against the state of California, claiming the deadly encounter should never have happened.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, alleges Sanchez was unarmed when he was shot three times—including once in the back—outside his family’s Fresno home. According to the complaint, Sanchez had just arrived to celebrate Christmas Eve when the parole officer appeared unannounced and did not explain the reason for the visit.
Attorney Stuart Chandler said the encounter escalated quickly. The lawsuit claims the officer used pepper spray, causing Sanchez to cover his face and walk away across the front lawn. As he did, the officer allegedly opened fire, and Sanchez collapsed in the driveway.
“One thing that is not part of the protocol is to shoot an unarmed person as they are running away,” Chandler said at a press conference outside the state’s parole office in Fresno.
Sanchez reportedly died at the scene despite life-saving efforts by his mother, a nurse employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The lawsuit notes that Sanchez had a history of mental illness and argues he should have been met with de-escalation tactics rather than lethal force.
The civil complaint names both the parole officer and the state of California as defendants, alleging failures in training, supervision, and oversight, and seeks damages for wrongful death and emotional distress. Chandler also noted that the family previously filed a claim with the state but received no response.
The California Department of Justice conducted a criminal investigation into the shooting, but no information has been provided regarding potential charges or disciplinary action against the officer.
In response to the lawsuit, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated it does not comment on pending or active litigation.
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