The Kern County Sheriff鈥檚 Office determined on June 20 that a deputy acted within the agency鈥檚 policy during an officer-involved shooting on May 14 in the 10000 block of Shellabarger Road.
On May 14, KCSO deputies responded to the home after receiving reports that a man 鈥� later identified as Robert Robinson 鈥� was having a mental health crisis and was under the influence of drugs, according to a KCSO video summarizing the incident.
In a 911 call, Robinson鈥檚 girlfriend requested a wellness check earlier in the day, saying Robinson was 鈥渓osing his mind鈥� and she believed he was under the influence of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Robinson鈥檚 girlfriend called back later around 8 p.m. saying Robinson was having a mental health crisis and was holding an AR-15 rifle, the video states. She said he was screaming for hours. She called at a later time saying some of Robinson鈥檚 friends tried to convince him to give up the gun, but Robinson refused.
Neighbors also called 911, one saying she heard Robinson yelling he was going to kill himself, the video stated.
KCSO deputies arrived around 8:15 p.m. and tried to contact Robinson. One of the videos without audio from above the property showed Robinson with the gun outside of a trailer saying something and pointing with his hand that was not holding the gun.
Deputies continued to call out to Robinson and told him he was not under arrest, he was not in trouble and the deputies just wanted to help. Deputies said they did not want Robinson to hurt himself. After multiple calls to Robinson, gunshots were heard, the video stated.
According to the Kern County coroner鈥檚 office, Robinson was shot around 9:54 p.m. Deputy Zachary Richmond, who shot Robinson, has been on critical incident leave since the investigation, according to the KCSO video. Richmond was found to have acted within KCSO鈥檚 use of force policy after a review concluded June 20.
The evidence in the investigation has been submitted to the Kern County District Attorney's office, according to the video.听
According to the video, Robinson was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. According to the coroner, Robinson died at Kern Medical on May 17.
KCSO said anyone with information can call the department at 661-861-3110 or the Secret Witness line at 661-322-4040.