Victor Coleman, a 53-year-old construction worker from Bakersfield, California, tragically lost his life on April 28, 2014, in Oroville, California. Coleman was in Oroville for work and staying at the Sunset Inn on Feather River Boulevard. On the day of his death, Oroville police officers responded to a welfare check call from Coleman's wife, Lori Coryell, who reported that he was agitated and possibly suicidal. Upon arrival, officers found Coleman locked inside his motel room.
After attempting to talk him out for about two hours, the officers broke the lock with a battering ram and entered the room. According to the officers, Coleman stood up and charged at them wielding a Wild Turkey bourbon bottle in one hand and a knife in the other. In response, the officers shot Coleman 16 times, resulting in his death.
The incident sparked controversy and led to an investigation by the Officer Involved Shooting/Critical Incident Team, a task force composed of personnel from 13 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. At an October 1 press conference, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey and Oroville Police Chief Bill LaGrone declared the officers' actions justified, stating that Coleman posed an imminent threat to their safety. However, Coleman's parents, Hershel and Laura Coleman, disputed this account, claiming that their son was unarmed and sitting down when the officers stormed his room and opened fire. They argued that the officers' shots were fired at a downward angle, indicating that Coleman was sitting while shot.
The Colemans have been vocal in their pursuit of justice, alleging negligence and a lack of transparency from the Butte County District Attorney's Office. They have requested further investigation into the shooting, filing a petition with the U.S. Department of Justice. The family has also sought access to additional information, including officers' statements, police reports, transcripts of phone calls and conversations, and crime scene photos, to substantiate their claims. Despite these efforts, the District Attorney's Office has maintained that the officers' actions were justified, and the case remains a point of contention for the Coleman family and the Oroville community.
