Joseph Cornelison was tragically shot and killed on the night of May 14, 2022, in Hayward, California. The incident occurred on the 400 block of West A Street. According to police reports, Cornelison was involved in a physical altercation with Omar Garrett, a 23-year-old from Oakland. Witnesses stated that Cornelison was unarmed during the confrontation. Garrett, who was a security guard with a licensed weapon, called 911 immediately after the shooting and was arrested at the scene.
He was charged with murder and held in Santa Rita Jail on a no-bail hold.
The case took a significant turn when Garrett's lawyer argued that his client acted in self-defense. Garrett claimed that Cornelison had ambushed and attacked him, knocking him to the ground and pummeling him. In response, Garrett fired his pistol multiple times. His lawyer emphasized that Garrett had no criminal history and owned his own security business. The defense maintained that Garrett's actions were in line with his duties as a security guard and that he had called 911 as he would in any other situation.
After spending 11 days in jail, Garrett was released without bail. The case continued to unfold over the following year, with ongoing discussions between Garrett's lawyer and prosecutors. In September 2023, Alameda County prosecutors decided to dismiss the murder charge against Garrett. The decision was influenced by video evidence that supported Garrett's claim of self-defense. The dismissal marked the end of a lengthy legal battle, with Garrett's lawyer expressing relief that his client's actions were ultimately recognized as a legitimate act of self-defense.
