Diana Showman, a 19-year-old resident of San Jose, California, tragically lost her life on August 14, 2014. On that fateful morning, Diana, who struggled with bipolar disorder, made a distressing 911 call claiming she had an Uzi and threatened to harm her mother and brother if the police did not respond. This call led to a tense and ultimately fatal encounter with the San Jose Police Department.
Diana, who was alone in the house, had no actual firearm but was holding a spray-painted power drill that resembled a gun. When officers arrived, they ordered her to drop the object. Despite repeated commands, Diana, in a distressed and catatonic state, raised the drill towards the officers, prompting Officer Wakana Okuma to fire a single fatal shot, believing her life was in imminent danger.
The aftermath of Diana's death was marked by significant controversy and legal actions. Her parents, Jim and Vickie Showman, were devastated and critical of the police response, arguing that the situation could have been handled differently, especially given Diana's known mental health issues. They emphasized the need for better crisis intervention training for officers dealing with individuals in mental health crises. The District Attorney's report cleared Officer Okuma of any wrongdoing, stating that she had a reasonable fear for her life and did not know the object was a drill. However, Diana's parents disagreed with this conclusion, highlighting the importance of mandatory and ongoing crisis intervention training for law enforcement.
In the years following Diana's death, her parents reached a settlement with the City of San Jose. The settlement did not involve monetary compensation but focused on improving police training and response to mental health crises. The Showmans have since dedicated themselves to advocating for non-lethal methods and better communication between dispatchers and officers to prevent similar tragedies. They have also worked with the San Jose Police Department to enhance their crisis intervention team training, hoping to ensure that other families do not have to endure the same pain and loss they experienced.
