Redding Police have released body-worn camera footage from an officer involved shooting that happened March 26th in the parking lot of the East Cypress Avenue Safeway. Officers had spotted 46-year-old David John Schaeffer of Anderson in a parked gold Acura SUV and knew that he had a felony warrant, so they closed in to make an arrest. One officer tried to box him in and pointed his gun at him, but Schaeffer started to maneuver around the police cruiser to flee and that’s when the officer fired two shots at him. One round hit a windshield support post and the other round struck Schaeffer in the mouth. He drove away along the front of Safeway and Lowes, and then south down Alfreda Way before crashing into a parked car while turning onto Downard Lane. Officers ordered him to the ground and took him into custody, then discovered his gunshot injury. Schaeffer was taken to a hospital, then transferred to an out-of-the-area hospital. He fled after being discharged but was picked up in Reno. He faces several felony charges. State law requires the public release of footage when someone is shot by police. The video can be seen through a link on the KQMS Facebook Page.
-Steve Gibson