The California Department of Justice has released a report on the officer-involved shooting that resulted in the deaths of Rafael Mendoza and Michael MacFhionghain in San Francisco on May 19, 2022. The investigation was conducted under Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), which requires the Department of Justice to review all incidents where an unarmed civilian is killed by law enforcement officers in California.
Attorney General Rob Bonta stated, “AB 1506 is a critical transparency and accountability tool, and our hope for this report is to provide some understanding and aid in advancing towards a safer California for all. Loss of life is always a tragedy. Together, we aim to foster a system that not only protects the rights of individuals but also promotes trust and accountability between law enforcement and our communities.”
According to the report, police responded to a call about two men fighting. When officers arrived at the scene, they saw Michael MacFhionghain armed with a knife on top of Rafael Mendoza. Officers attempted to deescalate the situation by issuing commands for MacFhionghain to drop the knife. He did not comply and raised the knife as if to stab Mendoza. Multiple officers then fired their weapons within four to five seconds, striking both men, who died from their injuries.
After reviewing evidence from the incident, the Department of Justice concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that officers acted without intent to defend themselves or others from what they reasonably believed was an imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury. As such, no criminal charges will be filed against any officer involved.
The Department recommended that San Francisco Police Department provide additional training focused on designating one officer at scenes like this one as the primary communicator with subjects involved.
Rob Bonta leads the California Attorney General’s office, which serves as the state’s chief law enforcement authority across California and advances initiatives in civil rights, consumer protection, economic security, and environmental justice (official website). The office promotes transparency through tools such as its OpenJustice portal for publishing criminal justice data (official website).
A full copy of the report is available online.
