San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies were involved in a 2022 shootout along a California highway that killed a teenage girl, and the fugitive’s father will not face criminal charges, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Friday.
Bonta has released a report compiled by the California Department of Justice following an investigation that includes an interview with officers, an eyewitness driving on the road that day, and a family member who recalls the man and his daughter having a close relationship.
The Attorney General called the incident a tragic situation with tragic consequences.
“This report has been extremely difficult to publish, and I sincerely hope that the community will provide the answers they have been waiting for,” Bonta said in a statement. “The California Department of Justice aims to partner with law enforcement to create a fair and equitable legal environment, ensuring that the rule of law is supported and justice is accessible to all.”
Video and audio released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office showed Savanna Gragiano, 15, was shot dead on September 27, 2022, when she approached deputies among the shooters.
According to a Justice Department review, 45-year-old Anthony Gragiano kicked out with his daughter after shooting and killing his 45-year-old estranged wife, Tracy Martinez, while trying to escape from his pickup truck. Authorities said the teenager was in a truck when his mother was shot and an Amber alert was issued.
San Bernardino County Councilman discovered the truck the following day, followed by a 41-mile pursuit on the interstate. As Anthony Graziano was driving, authorities said many rounds were fired from the rear and passenger windows of the vehicle. Audio from the lawmaker’s belt recorder included rounds of sounds hitting a patrol vehicle. One deputy suffered a gunshot wound to the fingers of his arm and the fingers of his hands.
Authorities said shots continued to be fired from Graziano’s truck after he got off the highway and up the embankment. Approximately 65 used casings and four firearms were found in the truck. The investigation also determined that 21 deputies returned the fire.
The vehicle has stopped, and the teens wear tactical helmets and vests — says they stepped out of the passenger door and leaned down to the ground at first, according to the report. She then stood up and moved towards her lieutenant as he called out to her. According to reports, she raised her right hand, when other deputies fired.
Anthony Graziano was found dead in the driver’s seat. Autopsy results showed he died of a gunshot wound to the head and also showed he suffered gunshot wounds to the shoulder, waist and legs. Toxicology reports show that he has methamphetamine and amphetamine, morphine and hydrocodone in his blood and urine.
No drugs or alcohol was found in Savanna Graziano’s blood or urine. Her cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound.
Gunshot wounds were present in samples taken from both the teenager and her father’s hands. The report notes that residual particles of bullets can be deposited by firing firearms and being close to discharge firearms or handling firearms or ammunition.
The report states that “no conclusion” can be drawn from the inspection of residues as to whether the teen or father fired a firearm. However, considering the location of powder burns left by the muzzle of a rifle in the vehicle, investigators discovered that the driver was unable to maintain control of the gas and brake pedals when attempting to replicate multiple shooting positions from within the truck.
Prosecutors said in the report that evidence suggested that both daughters who had experience in handling firearms and who participated in a firearm training drill with their father pose an imminent threat, and that the need to use lethal force was reasonable.
The family told authorities that Graziano lives in his truck and his daughter is often with him and sleeps in the truck next to the park. They said the teenagers were angry at their parents’ divorce.
The report also included recommendations related to training and dash mount and body-mounted camera policies. The Attorney General said the Sheriff’s Office had implemented training recommendations after the incident.
