OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) — A jury found Redwood City police officer Roman Gomez not liable Thursday for the deadly shooting of middle school teacher Kyle Hart during a mental health emergency in 2018, declining to award damages to his wife and children.
On Dec. 10, 2018, Hart’s wife Kristin called 911, explaining he was cutting himself and attempting suicide. Gomez responded to the scene with fellow Redwood City police officer Leila Velez, entering the backyard where Hart was holding a knife moments before he cut his own throat, severing his external jugular vein.
According to testimony and audio from the 911 call, Gomez yelled “drop the knife” twice and a few seconds later Velez deployed her Taser. Then Gomez shot his handgun five times, with three shots hitting Hart. The 33-year-old teacher was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a nearby hospital…