Newly released video paints a clearer picture of the shootout between a murder suspect and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies that killed him and his 15-year-old abducted daughter in Sept. 2022.
The video, obtained by Southern California News Group, shows that 15-year-old Savannah Graziano, who was abducted by her father Anthony on Sept. 26, 2022, after he allegedly murdered his estranged wife in Fontana, may have been surrendering at the time she appeared to have been shot by deputies.
After she was kidnapped, an Amber Alert was issued for several counties before Graziano’s white truck was eventually located in Barstow the following day.
He led authorities on a dangerous 45-mile pursuit, shooting at deputies with Savannah in the vehicle before the chase ended in a shootout on the 15 Freeway near Main Street in Hesperia.
The new footage, which was recorded from a CHP helicopter over the scene at the time of the shootout, shows Anthony Graziano exchanging gunfire with deputies as Savannah kneels on the ground before standing and walking directly toward a sheriff’s deputy.
One deputy was heard alerting other officers to stop firing at the person approaching them, who he recognized to be Savannah.
“Stop! Stop shooting her!” the deputy yells. “He’s in the car! Stop! She’s okay!”
Seconds later, as she appeared to be trying to save her own life by surrendering, Savannah was struck by gunfire from a sheriff’s deputy.
She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead; her father also died in the shootout.
After the shooting, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus alleged that Savannah had fired a weapon at deputies during the pursuit and that she was wearing a tactical helmet and vest when she was shot and killed.
Authorities have not officially confirmed whether Savannah was armed when she was shot.
The California Department of Justice is handling the investigation into Savannah’s death. A public report will be issued when the investigation is complete.
KTLA has reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for comment but have yet to hear back.