Current:Home > InvestNovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:8-year-old boy and his pregnant mom held at gunpoint by police over mistaken identity -PureWealth Academy
NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:8-year-old boy and his pregnant mom held at gunpoint by police over mistaken identity
Indexbit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 07:22:48
An 8-year-old boy and NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Centerhis pregnant mother were pulled over at gunpoint by multiple Sacramento police officers on their way to football practice.
Shanice Stewart, who is nine months pregnant, and her son Brandon were stopped by police Oct. 17 on the highway, after the officers mistook Brandon for a juvenile with two felony warrants, including one for gun possession, according to Sacramento police.
"I noticed that they had guns drawn and they had instructions for me to then toss my keys out of the window,” Stewart told ABC News. "And open the door with my left hand, proceed to get out and put my hands in the air and then walk towards them. I immediately broke down because I didn't know or understand what was going on."
Brandon got out of the vehicle afraid that his mother would be arrested or worse, according to Stewart. He screamed and pleaded for her to come back to the car. The 8-year-old, not realizing the officers thought he was the suspect, approached them frantically explaining that his mother was just taking him to football practice and hadn’t done anything wrong. It was at that point that Stewart believes the officers realized that Brandon wasn’t the suspect.
"I was scared of him getting shot,” Stewart said. "You don't know what to expect, especially when it's multiple officers with their guns drawn towards the car. You just you don't know. But I was definitely in fear of getting shot, me or my son. Just by one of them feeling like they were in danger or they did not feel comfortable."
MORE: Trial begins for 3rd officer charged in connection with Elijah McClain's death
The officers released Stewart and Brandon shortly after, according to Stewart. Police told ABC News they first misidentified Brandon through helicopter surveillance, as he and his mother were leaving their home to go to football practice. Brandon matched the description of a suspect because of his hair style and clothing, according to police.
The next day a captain with the Sacramento police told Stewart the suspect they are looking for is a teenager, according to Stewart. Brandon, a third grader, is about 3’10”, 56 pounds.
"From a distance, officers observed a juvenile who they believed to be the wanted suspect, enter a vehicle with tinted windows," Sacramento police told ABC News through a statement. "Based on the information regarding firearm history, a high-risk stop was initiated. As officers were conducting the stop and the windows were rolled down, they realized the juvenile in the vehicle was not the wanted suspect, and at that point the high-risk stop was ended."
MORE: Calls for justice in Sacramento after unarmed black man killed by police
According to Stewart, Brandon is traumatized. Every time they approach the highway, her son asks if they can take the street route instead. When he sees a police cruiser drive past their car, he reminds his mother to drive safely. He also only rides in the back seat of the car now, where he feels safer.
"I do keep repeating to him that all police officers are not bad. You can't just assume that," Stewart said. "I don't want him to hate the law. As far as me, at any given moment, every time an officer gets behind me, I’m at fear for my life. I'm scared and he's scared."
The Sacramento Police Department told ABC News that the suspect is still at large. When asked if any disciplinary measures would be taken against the officers involved, Sacramento police said the incident is still under review.
"We must acknowledge that a case of mistaken identity occurred," Sacramento police told ABC News through a statement. "Our officers provided explanation and an apology to the mother and her son. Our department has been in contact with the mother since the incident. We recognize the impact that police interactions can have on our community members."
Stewart is currently exploring the possibility of taking legal action against the Sacramento Police Department.
"It was definitely heartbreaking. It's something that is a life changer." Stewart said. "For us to not have done anything and for it to had went that far."
ABC News' Armando Garcia contributed to this report.
veryGood! (849)
Related
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo's Impressively Private Love Story Is One for the Record Books
- 'Wait Wait' for October 14, 2023: 25th Anniversary Spectacular, Part VII!
- Grandson recounts seeing graphic video of beloved grandmother killed by Hamas
- British golfer Charley Hull blames injury, not lack of cigarettes, for poor Olympic start
- Mississippi sheriff aims to avoid liability from federal lawsuit over torture of Black men
- Man United sale: Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim is withdrawing his bid - AP source
- 'Curlfriends: New In Town' reminds us that there can be positives of middle school
- Boy who wandered away from his 5th birthday party found dead in canal, police say
- South Carolina man convicted of turtle smuggling charged with turtle abuse in Georgia
Ranking
- Charges: D'Vontaye Mitchell died after being held down for about 9 minutes
- US cities boost security as fears spread over Israel-Hamas war despite lack of credible threats
- Iran’s foreign minister warns Israel from Beirut it could suffer ‘a huge earthquake’
- 'Scary as hell:' Gazan describes fearful nights amid Israeli airstrikes
- 'Stranger Things' prequel 'The First Shadow' is headed to Broadway
- Things to know about Poland’s parliamentary election and what’s at stake
- 5 Things podcast: Controversy ignited over Smithsonian's Museum of the American Latino
- Israeli family mourns grandfather killed by Hamas and worries about grandmother, a captive in Gaza
Recommendation
Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
Lexi Thompson makes bold run at PGA Tour cut in Las Vegas, but 2 late bogeys stall her bid
UAW President Shawn Fain vows to expand autoworker strike with little notice
Early results in New Zealand election indicate Christopher Luxon poised to become prime minister
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
Man convicted in ambush killing of police officer, other murders during violent spree in New York
North Carolina Medicaid expansion still set for Dec. 1 start as federal regulators give final OK
Trump's GOP opponents bristle at his response to Hamas' assault on Israel