FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2022
Contact: Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, 925-957-8638
[email protected]
Officer Andrew Hall’s Fatal Shooting of Tyrell Wilson Focus of DA Report
Martinez, Calif. – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office will not file criminal charges against Deputy Andrew Hall in the 2021 fatal shooting of Tyrell Wilson, as detailed in a Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident (LEIFI) report released today.
The report is part of Contra Costa County’s protocol that investigates when police officers or civilians are shot or die during an encounter with law enforcement. The document summarizes the District Attorney’s independent investigative report of the incident, contains a legal analysis, and concludes with a charging decision.
The incident involving Deputy Andrew Hall and Tyrell Wilson occurred on March 11, 2021, in the Town of Danville. On that date around 11:45 am, the California Highway Patrol received multiple calls reporting that someone on the Sycamore Valley Road overpass was throwing rocks onto Interstate 680. Deputy Hall responded to the location and saw a man, later identified as Tyrell Wilson, who matched the description of the suspect.
Deputy Hall exited his vehicle and followed Wilson into the intersection while engaging in a verbal back-and-forth. During the encounter, Wilson told Deputy Hall: “No. Don’t [explicative] touch me!” Then, Wilson retrieved a folding knife from his jacket and held the blade by his right thigh -- which was oriented forward. Hall then proceeded to take five steps away from Deputy Hall while saying, “Touch me and see what’s up. Touch me and see what’s up.”
Deputy Hall unholstered his firearm, pointed it at Wilson, and ordered him to “Drop the knife” three times. Wilson took 2-3 steps towards Deputy Hall, raised the knife up to his chest, looked up at the sky, and said, “Kill me.” Deputy Hall then took approximately three steps backward and shot Wilson once in the head, causing him to collapse to the ground.
Wilson was transported by ambulance to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. He died from a fatal gunshot wound two days later.
The LEIFI report details the encounter between Deputy Hall and Tyrell Wilson, summarizes the opinions and analyses of two use-of-force experts, and includes an extensive legal analysis that led to a charging decision. The full report is available on the District Attorney’s Office’s website. The Wilson family was advised in person before the report was published, and a copy of the report has been sent to state Attorney General Rob Bonta.
D.A. Becton notes that “This was a difficult and challenging case. My legal team and I spent a considerable amount of time and resources evaluating the evidence before coming to this conclusion. As a community, we need to find ways to de-escalate law enforcement encounters where the use of force leads to tragic outcomes. The loss of Tyrell Wilson’s life weighs on our community and I express my deepest condolences to the Wilson family.”
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