The family of a man shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy in 2022 sued Sacramento County in federal court, saying Jaime Naranjo was having a mental health crisis and had not committed any crime when authorities arrived at his home.
Naranjo was having hallucinations and talking about suicide when his wife, Elisa Daher, called 911 to get help for him, the lawsuit said. When officers arrived at their south Sacramento home, Naranjo staggered toward them, covering his eyes and holding a knife. One of the deputies opened fire, shooting Naranjo five times.
According to the lawsuit and The Bee’s previous reporting, Naranjo was shot just 23 seconds after the encounter, timing that family members say shows no effort was made to de-escalate the situation. In the lawsuit, Daher and other family members said Naranjo posed no threat and that he should not have been shot or killed.
The family, who is suing under federal civil and disability rights laws, said the Sheriff’s Office has a history of responding with deadly force to people in mental health crises rather than trying to resolve the situation to calm down and get the person under supervision. In addition to the county, they also sued Deputy Andrew Seidel and others involved in the incident, as well as Sheriff Jim Cooper, who took over the agency three months later.
“This tragic loss highlights a critical flaw in our system: When families reach out for help, they should not be met with tragedy,” said Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, which is representing the family.
A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said the agency could not comment on pending litigation.
Video from a body-worn camera released in the days after the shooting shows Naranjo walking toward his wife with a machete outside their home in the unincorporated Fruitridge Pocket neighborhood. He is also seen advancing towards the deputy.
Daher screams as the deputy says, “Put it down.”
A few seconds later, shots ring out and Naranjo falls.
