San Diego police release body camera video of officer shooting suspect holding 11-month-old child

Above: A May 20 report from FOX 5's Elizabeth Alvarez on the shooting.

WARNING: The video linked to the article below contains descriptions of graphic images and language, as well as domestic violence. Viewer discretion recommended.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Police Department officials released video Tuesday showing the moment a police officer opened fire on a man suspected of kidnapping his 11-month-old daughter, injuring him and narrowly missing the infant.

The 10-minute edited video details what led up to the Sunday, May 19, shooting, which began with a reported domestic violence incident at an apartment complex in the 400 block of 47th Street around 10:20 p.m.

It begins with audio of the 9-1-1 call made by a woman identified by SDPD as the ex-girlfriend of the suspect, 29-year-old Steffon Nutall. He can be heard telling the dispatcher, “He said he came shooting through the door.” ” Authorities said she then opened the door to him “out of fear.”

While still on the line with the dispatcher, the two argue, prompting Nutall to ask who was on the phone and demanding that the ex-girlfriend pass the phone. The woman can be heard responding by saying, “Steffon, what's wrong with you?” Stop!” before picking up the phone.

At that point, he is heard speaking with the dispatcher, while also threatening the ex-girlfriend. He can be heard saying “F—, I'm going to shoot you in your motherf— s—” and “If the police come to this door…I'm going to kill everything in here.” I promise you.

The call ends shortly after. According to SDPD, Nutall grabbed the 11-month-old child and walked out of the apartment. When officers arrived on scene, authorities say they began running away while they were with the infant.

The video then cuts to the body-worn camera footage of responding officer Robert Gladysz, who then shot and injured Nutall as he arrived on scene at 10:24 p.m. Gladysz is from the South Division Is and has been with SDPD for a year and a half.

He could then be seen quickly getting out of the car to pursue Nutall. According to SDPD, the suspect walked through the apartment complex with several officers in pursuit, crossed the adjacent light rail station and entered another apartment complex in the 200 block of 47th Street.

Nutall was located in a wooded area in the northwest corner of the apartment complex, off Interstate 805, where body-worn camera video is captured.

In the video, Gladysz could be seen searching for the suspect at the edge of a steep hill, using her flashlight. He saw Nutall a short time later, shouting, “Show your hands, show your f-hands or [unintelligible] shot him.

At that point, Nutall can be seen standing up and turning in the opposite direction as the officer fires at least 11 shots. At least one appeared to hit Nutall, causing him to fall into a bush.

Then, other responding officers can be seen gathering near Gladysz, who tells them, “He pointed his gun at me…he's right at the bottom of the f-hill.” »

One of the police officers can then be heard asking Gladysz: “Does he have the child?” He responded by saying, “I haven’t seen a child.” I saw the weapon. However, investigators later determined that he was holding the 11-month-old under his left arm when he was shot.

He also did not own a gun before the shooting, but authorities said body camera video showed him with an object in his right hand before the shots were fired. The video released by SDPD slows down and highlights the item, but it is not clear enough to understand what it is.

Meanwhile, security video appears to show Nutall dropping his firearm as he walked through the light rail station parking lot.

The child was found atop a nearby retaining wall by officers in a helicopter above, the video shows. She was not injured in the shooting and was later returned unharmed to her mother, according to SDPD.

The body camera video then resumes from the perspective of another responding officer, showing SDPD approaching Nutall, who was injured and lying on the other side of the retaining wall. He can be heard saying something like “I don't have a gun” and “I was shot.”

According to SDPD, Nutall was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. He had to undergo surgery and is recovering.

Authorities added that Nutall was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, displaying a firearm in a threatening manner and willful cruelty to a child resulting in injury serious bodily injury or even death.

However, an investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Per county guidelines, the Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting, including the circumstances that led the officer to open fire. The findings will then be reviewed by the district attorney to determine whether the officer bears criminal responsibility in the incident.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.