Stockton police release body-worn camera of a sergeant being shot while responding to a carjacking

Stockton’s police chief on Thursday released harrowing body-worn camera footage that captured the moment a sergeant was shot while responding to a carjacking early Wednesday morning.

The video shows the sergeant reporting “shots fired” as the sound of multiple rounds of gunfire can be heard.

“I’m shot. I’m taking rounds,” he can be heard yelling. “Still shooting.”

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said the sergeant, a nine-year veteran of the department who he did not identify, was shot multiple times and was shot “square in the chest.”

The sergeant’s ballistics vest saved his life, he said.

“It’s a call that no parent, no chief, no one wants to get in the middle of the night,” McFadden said of the shooting. “Had an officer down. That is a gut-wrenching call that you don’t want to hear.”

McFadden described the sergeant as a hero and said he was in good spirits when the chief met with him in the hospital.

“He’s eager to get back to work, but he has got some healing to do,” McFadden said.

Stockton police have said the shooting followed a call to police by a 69-year-old carjacking victim.

McFadden said Thursday that the carjacking victim was beaten with a firearm, and the chief met with him at the hospital as well.

The sergeant who was shot also saw the carjacking victim in the hospital and told him, “Hey, I got your vehicle back,” McFadden recalled.

Stockton police said they arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the carjacking and shooting.

Sunthawon "Benny" Savon of Stockton was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on charges related to carjacking, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, fleeing from a peace officer and possession of a stolen vehicle. His first court appearance will be on Friday. Police told KCRA 3 that Savon was arrested by Stockton officers in January on weapons-related charges.

McFadden said that Savon was not the only suspect in the vehicle, and police are not sure how many shooters were involved. Evidence at the scene showed that a pistol and rifle were involved, he said.

Five people were detained in all, but the others were released, police have said.

District Attorney Ron Freitas vowed that everyone responsible for the crime would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

McFadden also talked about crime trends during Thursday's press conference. He said that overall shootings are down 27% this year (59 shootings), compared to the same time last year (81 shootings). There have been 31 homicides so far this year, compared to 30 for the same period last year.

McFadden said arrests are up even as the department faces fewer officers this year (359) than last year (393).

“We’re lean, but we’re still very effective and efficient,” he said.

Still, McFadden said that “we’re fed up in Stockton” that violence has overshadowed other good things that are happening in the city.

“We’re going to find those that are driving the violence,” he said.