Mentally ill man, Alberto Arenas Shot dead by Police After being reported of Lighting Fireworks

In a tragic incident on Saturday evening, 29-year-old Alberto Nicholas Arenas, a mentally ill man, was shot and killed by Downey police in his backyard after a neighbor reported him for lighting fireworks. The Downey Police Department received a call for a ‘disturbance’ on Stewart and Gray Road around 6:15 p.m.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers engaged with Arenas, who allegedly produced a weapon. According to a police statement released on Sunday, officers found an airsoft-style rifle at the scene. The statement claimed that officers made “several attempts to gain control and deescalate the situation” before Arenas pointed the gun at them, prompting them to open fire.

A SWAT team, including a negotiator, also responded to the call. However, the Arenas family expressed confusion and distress over the massive police response to what they believed was a simple call about fireworks. “He didn’t deserve to die,” said his sister, Samantha Arenas. “He wasn’t a bad person — he was trying to get his life together.”

The incident has sparked an investigation by the California Department of Justice. This step is notable because the Department of Justice typically intervenes in police shootings where there is doubt about whether the victim was armed. The involvement of the Department of Justice indicates a thorough and impartial review of the circumstances surrounding Arenas’s death.

The community and Arenas’s family are grappling with the shock and grief of his sudden loss. Friends and family remember him as a person trying to improve his life despite his mental health challenges. The incident has highlighted the need for improved responses to situations involving mentally ill individuals to prevent such tragic outcomes.

As the investigation by the California Department of Justice proceeds, there are calls for transparency and accountability. The community hopes that the investigation will provide a clear understanding of the events that led to Arenas’s death and whether the use of lethal force was justified.

The Arenas family’s grief is compounded by the questions surrounding the police response. This tragic incident underscores the broader issue of how law enforcement interacts with individuals experiencing mental health crises. Advocates are calling for better training and protocols to ensure that such situations are handled with care and expertise to avoid unnecessary loss of life.

In conclusion, the fatal shooting of Alberto Nicholas Arenas by Downey police has left a community in mourning and a family seeking answers. The ongoing investigation by the California Department of Justice will be crucial in determining the facts and ensuring justice is served. The memory of Arenas serves as a poignant reminder of the need for compassionate and informed approaches to mental health crises in law enforcement.