William Littlefield (Full Name: William Clark Littlefield) Died in Redding in a Deputy-Involved Shooting at Home on Bob’s Mountain Road 

REDDING, CALIFORNIA (January 9, 2025) – A 52-year-old man identified as William Littlefield has tragically died in a Redding police shooting by a home on the 12000 block of Bob’s Mountain Road.

Shasta County officials are saying that the incident took place on Wednesday night. Shasta County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the scene of a home after getting reports of a man threatening to harm himself and possibly under the influence of narcotics.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they were able to make contact with the parents of William Littlefield. At some point, the man involved exited the home and was involved in some type of confrontation with deputies.

Two deputies opened fire and shot the man. Deputies began medical aid, which was later taken over by paramedics.

Despite life-saving measures, William Littlefield was later pronounced dead by medical staff. A full investigation into the deadly encounter remains ongoing at this time.

Legal Considerations for Redding Police Shootings

California has one of the highest instances of police shootings in the United States. Many of these shootings tragically involve people who are suffering from an acute mental health crisis. According to the Harvard Law Review, “From the beginning of 2017 through the end of 2020, police killed 356 individuals where the initial reason for the encounter was mental illness, erratic behavior, or suicide, and no weapon or threat to others was noted, according to the police reform organization Campaign Zero.” Officers who encounter a person under these conditions should follow California’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (“P.O.S.T.”).  Officers should:

  • Request backup
  • Calm the situation
  • Avoid physical contact
  • Determine if the suspect is taking medication
  • Acknowledge the suspect’s feelings
  • Not make any threats

Police officers have a legal obligation to always use the least amount of force necessary for any given encounter to avoid harming suspects. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. If an officer failed to follow a safety rule promulgated by their department, this could serve as evidence of negligence.

Consider, for example, the tragic death of Miles Hall. He was a 23-year-old man in the midst of a mental health crisis. He was sadly shot and killed by Walnut police officers. His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on the basis that officers failed to follow proper procedures for handling an individual with mental illness. The county eventually reached a settlement with his family. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any police shooting.

  • Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • Body camera footage from all officers involved should be reviewed.
  • The actions of officers leading up to the shooting should be understood.

There are many different reasons that a person may be in the midst of a mental health crisis. This could be due to an untreated mental illness. Or it may be the result of narcotics or other drugs. In either situation, officers must use the utmost care to avoid needlessly harming people. Many of these deadly encounters are totally preventable. They tend to involve officers who were either unwilling or unable to de-escalate encounters. The family of any person who died in a police shooting may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating Redding Police Shootings

We at the Sehat Law Firm were deeply concerned to hear about the tragic police shooting of William Littlefield. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Were police officers following protocols? Did they try to de-escalate the situation? Many questions remain unanswered.

Do you need more information about a Redding police shooting? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that people are aware of their rights and that police departments are held accountable for their brutality and excessive force. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.

 

 

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