Lompoc police release video from deadly officer-involved shooting at Circle K.
Surveillance footage, recently released by the Lompoc Police Department, provides insight into a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on December 28th, 2023. The six-minute video, made public on Tuesday, documents the response of Lompoc police officers to multiple armed robbery incidents at the Circle K on Ocean Avenue.
The footage captures the initial robbery incident at 11:30 p.m., where the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Connor Amador from Lompoc, allegedly entered the store armed, wearing a black hoodie. He pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the store clerk, demanded cash, and fled after robbing both money and alcohol from the establishment.
Subsequent incidents unfolded throughout the night, with Amador reportedly attempting to carjack someone in the parking lot at 1:18 a.m. When unsuccessful, he re-entered the Circle K and attempted to rob it again, this time wielding what seemed to be a gun and a machete.
The critical moment occurred when Amador exited the store and was confronted by officers. The surveillance footage shows him approaching a vehicle he had attempted to carjack earlier, then allegedly raising the replica gun towards the officers, prompting them to respond with lethal force.
Amador was fatally shot during the encounter. The release of the video aligns with the Lompoc Police Department’s commitment to transparency regarding law enforcement actions.
The officer involved in the shooting, identified as Alexander Justice, has nine years of law enforcement experience, six of which have been with the Lompoc Police Department. He is currently on administrative leave pending the investigation into the shooting, as authorities work to provide a thorough examination of the incident.