Christian Sierra

How they died

Deadly force

Police were called for a report of Sierra trying to stab himself. The caller told police the teen had already stabbed himself multiple times and two friends at the home with Sierra unsuccessfully tried to restrain him. The caller told dispatchers that Sierra jumped off the second-story of the townhome and fled. Sierra was found sitting on the side of the road by Officer T. Hood. At the time a friend was behind Sierra struggling for control of the knife. When Hood got out of his patrol other, he yelled at Sierra multiple times to drop the knife Sierra, police said, "raised the knife, pointed it at Officer Hood, increased his speed, and continued to advance." Once Sierra was within 5 to 10 feed of Hood, the officer shot and killed him. Edit: At trial, it was found that the officer and his car were 20 to 40 feet away from Sierra. A jury ruled the officer should pay Sierra's family $3.65 million.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Christian Sierra, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources