The family of a man mistakenly shot and killed by Phoenix police is calling on the state’s top law enforcement official to step in after local prosecutors decided to not bring charges.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell called Christian Diaz Rendon heroic for defending his family from an armed intruder in January. She also said her decision to not charge Officer Jason Valenzuela for shooting Rendon was partly based on Supreme Court case law.
At a news conference Thursday, Rendon family attorney David Chami accused Mitchell’s office of covering for Phoenix police.
“We are asking the Attorney General Kris Mayes to intervene in this case and to bring charges. Because what we believe is there is a clear conflict of interest between the county attorney’s office and the Phoenix Police Department,” Chami said.
Rendon’s family has filed a $25 million notice of claim against the city and Officer Valenzuela, who Chami said should have been charged with negligent homicide.
“And from the moment he first had any visual of what was happening inside the home, to the moment he shot Christian in the head, it was less than three seconds,” Chami said.
The Phoenix police chief has apologized for Rendon’s shooting.
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