A federal jury in Southern California has awarded $51.8 million to the family of Antonio Garza Jr., who was fatally shot by San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies in February 2023. The verdict, believed to be the largest of its kind in California history, follows a civil trial that found the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department liable for the deputies’ use of excessive force, civil rights violations, and wrongful death.
Garza, 44, was killed on February 5, 2023, after a 35-minute chase that began at his Yucca Valley home where he had started a fire. The pursuit ended in Palm Springs, where deputies fired a total of 21 shots, including 14 initial rounds followed by seven more after Garza had fallen to the ground. An independent autopsy presented during the trial revealed Garza was struck twice in the back and twice while on the ground. None of the deputies involved were wearing body cameras.
A video captured by a motorist on Interstate 10 showed part of the incident as Garza ran along the highway holding an object later identified as a golf club. Deputies ordered him to drop the item and get on the ground, but Garza refused, reportedly saying, “No, you’re f— going to shoot me, bro,” before advancing toward the officers. Deputies then used less-lethal beanbag rounds twice without success. The deputies involved said Garza raised the golf club above his head and swung it toward Deputy Nicholas Kridner, prompting Deputies Kridner and Bill Abernathy to open fire.
County attorneys noted that Garza had a significant amount of methamphetamine in his system at the time of the shooting. The trial also included testimony about Garza’s history with law enforcement and his deteriorating mental health. Despite multiple attempts by family members to obtain help for Garza, including inquiries about conservatorship and outreach to government and independent organizations, adequate assistance was not provided. In 2021, Garza was arrested after an incident in which he allegedly drove toward deputies during a welfare check.
In 2022, Garza was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and was ordered to be detained until placement in a mental health treatment facility became available—a placement that never materialized. He was released from jail on January 24, 2023, a little over a week before the shooting, and told to seek mental health assistance within 48 hours. However, when Garza tried to access the court-ordered services, he was met with a six-month waiting list.
Garza’s sister, Silvia Garza-Littman, criticized the system, saying, “No one would step in to help our brother... Instead of helping, they only made things worse.”
The jury awarded Garza’s mother $8 million for emotional pain and suffering, $10 million for loss of love, $8 million for future loss of enjoyment, $2 million for mental pain, $6 million for physical pain, $2.8 million for lost earnings, and $5 million for violations of Garza’s civil rights. An additional $10 million in punitive damages was awarded after the jury found the deputies acted with reckless disregard. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has not yet issued a public comment on the verdict.