El Centro – 22-year-old Ezequiel Espinoza was fatally shot by officers in El Centro on May 21, 2025.
Incident Overview
At around 8:00 p.m, El Centro Police Department officers responded to a report of a possibly armed man attempting to burglarize a residence on the 200 block of South Second Street. When officers arrived, they reportedly encountered Espinoza and, at some point during the encounter, opened fire. Espinoza was pronounced dead at the scene.
Under California law, any fatal officer-involved shooting of an unarmed person—or in cases where the facts remain unclear—must be investigated by the state’s Department of Justice per California Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), and as such the California Department of Justice has taken over the investigation into this incident.
Legal Standards Governing Police Use of Force
California’s use-of-force standards were significantly revised in recent years following public outcry over high-profile police shootings. Under California Penal Code § 835a, officers may only use deadly force when it is necessary to defend human life. Furthermore, agencies are expected to evaluate whether officers exhausted alternative methods—such as de-escalation—before resorting to deadly force.
Concerns and Legal Recourse Over Officer-Involved Shootings in California
According to the California Department of Justice’s Open Justice portal, over 140 people died in incidents involving law enforcement statewide in 2023. The majority of these incidents involved individuals with firearms, but many also involved people in mental health crises or in need of social services.
For families affected by in-custody deaths or police shootings, there may be options for legal redress. A claim for excessive force can be brought under 42 U.S. Code § 1983, which allows individuals to sue state actors for civil rights violations. Additionally, California’s wrongful death statutes allow family members to seek damages for the loss of a loved one due to unlawful police actions.
Seeking Accountability for Officer-Involved Shootings
We at The Sehat Law Firm offer our condolences to the family of Ezequiel Espinoza.
At The Sehat Law Firm, we are committed to holding law enforcement agencies accountable when their actions violate constitutional protections. If your loved one has been the victim of an officer-involved shooting or died while in police custody, our team can guide you through your legal options and fight for the justice your family deserves. Call (949) 825-5200 or complete the form at the bottom of this page to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and should not be considered legal or medical advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary and any referenced here may not apply to your situation. This article was created from secondary sources and so may not be completely accurate. If you have any concerns, please contact us, and we’ll update or remove the post as needed.
