Missouri man identified as suspect shot by police officer in California

GROVER BEACH, CA. — An Independence, Missouri, man has been identified as the suspect shot and killed by a police officer in California following an incident last month.

On Saturday, May 25, police officers in Grover Beach, California responded to a gas station regarding a man who had shown a person a gun.

Officers arrived on scene and were unable to locate the suspect. They then evacuated the scene.
area.

A few minutes later, officers responded to a man who was causing a disturbance. Callers reported a man throwing rocks at passing cars.

A Grover Beach police officer arrived on scene and contacted the suspect. After getting out of his patrol car, the man told the officer he had a gun and would shoot him.

The officer gave several commands to the suspect to obey, who continued to be uncooperative and continued to tell the officer he had a gun and would shoot him. The man then advanced towards the officer, quickly raising his right arm with a replica firearm in his hand.

The officer shot and struck the suspect several times. The entire incident was captured on a body-worn camera.

The suspect, identified as Aaron Edward Gardner, 41, was taken to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Police said that at the time of the shooting, Gardner had warrants out for his arrest in Kansas and Texas. He was homeless and traveling around California.