San Leandro, California — On April 18, 2020, about 3:12PM, San Leandro Police Officers responded to Walmart, located at 15555 Hesperian Boulevard, for a report of a man brandishing a baseball bat inside the store. Upon their arrival, officers saw Steven Taylor standing near the shopping cart storage bay holding a baseball bat. Officers approached Taylor and gave him commands to put down the bat. Taylor did not comply with the officers’ commands and instead walked towards the officers while still holding the bat.
An officer discharged his taser, which was not effective, and Taylor continued walking towards the officers. Then, the officer used his service weapon, striking Taylor once in his upper torso. Seconds later, another officer discharged his taser at Taylor. Officers called for paramedics and provided first aid until they arrived. Despite life-saving measures, Taylor died from his injuries at the scene.
The officers involved were placed on administrative leave. On April 20, 2020, the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau performed an autopsy on Taylor and the preliminary cause of death was determined to be a single gunshot wound to his chest. Additionally, the Coroner’s Bureau confirmed that Taylor did not sustain any additional gunshot wounds to his head or back.
