SMC D.A. Clears Redwood City Officers In Man's Shooting Death

REDWOOD CITY, CA -- The San Mateo's District Attorney’s Office has completed its investigation into the death of Kyle Hart last December at his Redwood City residence during a confrontation with two officers when they were called to the scene by his wife.

According to the report regarding the Dec. 10 incident, she told dispatchers he was trying to kill himself and held "a large kitchen knife." Hart approached officers armed with the knife, and he was shot with a Taser to no avail. The man continued toward officers when he was shot a handful of times, the report reads.

After a thorough investigation by Inspector Kevin Raffaelli and other investigators with the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe has determined that the filing of criminal charges is not warranted involving Redwood City Police Officers Roman Gomez and Leila Velez.

District Attorney Wagstaffe has concluded that the use of force by the two officers which resulted in Hart's death was justifiable pursuant to penal code on the use of force.

Based on all of the information ascertained during the investigation, Wagstaffe concluded that the circumstances surrounding Hart's death did not involve any violation of California criminal statutes by the two Redwood City police officers. Therefore, this case is now deemed closed by this office.

Wagstaffe wrote a letter to Redwood City police Chief Daniel Mulholland setting forth the basis for the decision.

Anyone seeking to review all or part of the investigation may contact Chief Inspector John Warren of the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations at 650-363-4074.