SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (KGO) — An Alameda County judge denied a motion on Friday to dismiss the case against a former San Leandro police officer accused of shooting and killing a man at a Walmart in 2020.
Steven Taylor’s family members were emotional outside the Alameda County Superior Courthouse shortly after the judge rejected ex-San Leandro police officer Jason Fletcher’s bid to dismiss the case.
“Five years and 7 months, we have been fighting just to get to this point,” said Taylor’s grandmother, Addie Kitchen.
Ahead of the court hearing, Kitchen submitted a letter urging the judge to listen to the family, claiming their rights under California law had not been fully honored, citing numerous delays throughout the years.
“I’m glad that the judge felt the need to present the case to a jury. Let the jury make a decision,” Kitchen added.
### Incident Details
Taylor was shot and killed in 2020 by Fletcher, who responded to a suspected shoplifting incident at a Walmart. Family members and community advocates have accused the district attorney of not seeking justice for Taylor.
“Your job is to represent the people, and we are the people,” said Cat Brooks, Executive Director of the Anti-Police Terror Project. “Nancy O’Malley, the district attorney who charged this cop, had never charged an officer in her entire tenure. Jason Fletcher was the first one. There is a reason for that.”
Brooks spoke about alternative actions Fletcher could have taken: “He could have backed up. He could have de-escalated. He could have waited for mental health intervention. There are a bazillion things he could have done.”
During the investigation, police released cellphone video showing Officer Fletcher trying to get Taylor to drop a baseball bat that he had been swinging. Taylor refused and was subsequently Tased. Officer Fletcher then shot him, leading to charges of voluntary manslaughter for allegedly using unreasonable deadly force.
“There has to be accountability, because if you don’t hold cops accountable, that is the only thing we’ve got,” Brooks said.
### Family Perspective
The family stated that Taylor suffered from mental health issues and was known to the San Leandro Police Department.
Taylor’s mother, Sharon Taylor, expressed relief that the charges were not dismissed. “I’m grateful that this wasn’t dismissed. Pushed under the rug,” she said.
### Case Status
ABC7 News contacted the Alameda County District Attorney’s office for comment but has not received a response.
Officer Fletcher has attempted to have the case moved out of Alameda County. Earlier this year, it was decided the case would remain in the county and now it is set to go to trial.
https://abc7news.com/post/steven-taylor-jason-fletcher-san-leandro-walmart-police-shooting/18156555/