The attorney for the family of a man shot to death by San Bernardino police is questioning the official version of events that was presented in a critical-incident video narrated by the chief of police and a department news release.
Robert Marquise “Rob” Adams, 23, died after being shot Saturday at about 8:05 p.m. Two uniformed officers in an unmarked car drove into the parking lot in the 400 block of West Highland Avenue after someone reported seeing a man with a gun. The officers got out of their car and ordered Adams to surrender, police said. But Adams ran toward two parked cars while still carrying a gun, police said.
Tamika King, mother of Robert “Rob” Adams, left, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, center, and Robert Adams , father of Rob Adams, shout for justice during a press conference outside of San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tamika King, left, mother of Robert “Rob” Adams is comforted by family members, as they demand justice for the San Bernardino police shooting death of Adams during a press conference outside of San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump (center) gestures during a press conference demanding justice for the shooting death of Robert “Rob” Adams by San Bernardino police at San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tamika King, mother of Robert “Rob” Adams, left is comforted by Renisha Adams, sister of Rob Adams during a press conference outside of San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022 as Adams sister Renisha Adams, right, lends support. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump (center) gestures during a press conference demanding justice for the shooting death of Robert “Rob” Adams by San Bernardino police at San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tamika King, mother of Robert “Rob” Adams, left, comforts younger brother Isiah, as they demand justice for the San Bernardino police shooting death of Adams during a press conference outside of San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Renisha Adams, sister of Robert “Rob” Adams, right, lends support. Police said Rob Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Approximately 50 family members and friends of Robert “Rob” Adams gather on the steps outside of San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022 demanding justice. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Robert Adams, father of Robert “Rob” Adams, gestures as he speaks to the media regarding the shooting death of his son by San Bernardino police during a press conference demanding justice outside the San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tamika King, mother of Robert “Rob” Adams, left, is comforted by attorney Bradley Gage as civil rights attorney Ben Crump speaks outside of the San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022 demanding justice for his death by San Bernardino police. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bradley Gage, the attorney for the family of Robert “Rob” Adams, escorts Tamika King towards the microphones during a press conference at San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tamika King, mother of Robert “Rob” Adams, left, comforts younger brother Isiah, as they demand justice for the San Bernardino police shooting death of Adams during a press conference outside of San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Renisha Adams, sister of Robert “Rob” Adams, right, lends support. Police said Rob Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump speaks during a press conference demanding justice for the San Bernardino police shooting death of Robert “Rob” Adams as Tamika King, mother of Adams, left, and Robert Adams, father of Adams, right, look on outside of San Bernardino City Hall on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Police said Adams, 23, was fatally shot by San Bernardino police as he ran away with a loaded handgun last Saturday night while officers were conducting surveillance on an illegal casino operation. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The San Bernardino Police Department released this image Monday night with a news release saying an officer fatally shot an armed man on the evening of July 16 in the 400 block of West Highland Avenue. The text in the image was placed there by the police department. (Photo courtesy San Bernardino Police Department)
The San Bernardino Police Department on Monday released this photo of what it said was a suspect’s loaded 9mm handgun recovered after an officer fatally shot the armed suspect on the evening of July 16 in the 400 block of West Highland Avenue. (Photo courtesy San Bernardino Police Department)
Police said that one officer, fearing that Adams might use the cars for cover for a gunfight that could endanger officers and bystanders, shot Adams, who had his back to the officers.
Attorney Bradley Gage, representing Adams’ family, and civil rights attorney Ben Crump on Wednesday, July 20, demanded to know why the officer shot Adams. The news conference, outside City Hall, was punctuated by about 50 family members and friends of Adams chanting “Justice for Rob.”
“Any reasonable person is going to run. That is not an acceptable reason to shoot,” Gage said.
Gage challenged a number of statements made by the Police Department.
For one, he said there is no evidence, as police had said, that the officers warned Adams to surrender. And Gage said there were no bystanders for police to protect.
“Look at the video. There’s nobody,” Gage said.
The attorney also said the department, in trying to “assassinate” Adams’ character, misstated his criminal history, confusing him with other family members named Robert who have convictions. Gage said Adams has a lone robbery conviction.
Gage said the video does not conclusively show Adams holding a gun, as police said the video “clearly” indicates. Adams’ mother, Tamika King, said she believes her son was holding a cell phone, and not a gun, when he was shot. She said her son had been excitedly talking to her about his purchase of a BMW when police arrived.
“I was on the phone and all I heard after that was gunshots,” King said.
The video shows the approximate 20 seconds before the officer shot Adams, and he could not be seen talking on a phone during that time.
Crump took the larger view, decrying shootings of Black people by police nationwide.
“Why do police in America think the most dangerous thing is a Black person running away from them?” Crump said.
Police Chief Darren Goodman said in an interview after the news conference that he is looking forward to responding to the attorneys’ remarks because he is “certain of the facts,” but cannot do so until the city’s lawyers authorize a statement.
Gage said he plans to file a claim against the city this week. Such claims are legally required precursors to lawsuits.
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