Families of four men killed by Contra Costa County authorities held a protest on Tuesday calling for the area's top officer to resign, according to reporting from KTVU.
The demonstration comes after Sheriff David Livington earlier this month sent a letter to his staff which showed support for former deputy Andrew Hall.
On March 4, Hall was sentenced to six years in prison on charges of voluntary manslaughter for fatally shooting 33-year-old Laudemer Arboleda, a mentally ill man, in Danville in 2018. Hall was responding to reports of a suspicious person and engaged in a slow speed pursuit of Arboleda. The situation culminated with Hall open firing on and killing Arboleda as he attempted to drive away at six miles per hour.
The Contra Costa County judge ruled that Hall made “extremely poor choices” leading up to his decision to shoot and kill Arboleda.
In the letter of support, obtained by KTVU, Livington said the sentencing marked a "sad day."
"For our district attorney to charge a deputy sheriff, or any peace officer, for a crime based on a split-second tactical decision is abhorrent," he continued. Livington made no mention of Arboleda, the station reported.
The families of Arboleda, Tyrell Wilson, Miles Hall and Angelo Quinto — all men killed by Contra Costa County officers, with Wilson also fatally shot by Andrew Hall — gathered outside the sheriff’s office in Martinez on Tuesday to call for Livington's resignation.
Jennifer Leong, the sister of Arboleda, told the outlet at the protest that the day her brother was shot was the sad day, not when Hall was sentenced. She called the letter "disgusting" and argued that Livingston "can't lead this community anymore."
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