Full Notification

UPDATE - Officer Involved Shooting

Suspect Information:
Johnathon Patrick Deming, Jr., 19 years-old, Resident of San Jose

Officer Information:
Pleasanton Police Officer Daniel Kunkel, 8 year veteran


On July 5, 2015 at a few minutes past 2 am Pleasanton officers responded to the report of a burglar alarm at Specialty Sales Classics auto sales located at 4321 First Street in Pleasanton. The investigation into the incident has begun to unfold and has revealed many new facts. When officers first arrived on First Street for the burglar alarm they could see Deming inside the business as the front of the car dealership is all glass and completely lit for viewing of the cars. While inside, Deming threw a large floor jack weighing more than 50 lbs through a glass window, which landed more than ten feet away on the sidewalk near the officers. As Deming stood in the threshold of the business, a less-lethal bean bag round was deployed at him, but missed. Deming continued to refuse orders to exit the business as he jumped from the tops of many cars inside the dealership while screaming. Deming then jumped off of the cars and retreated into a part of the business where he could no longer be seen through the front glass windows. The sergeant on-scene requested allied agency assistance and the Livermore Police Department responded with personnel to assist.

Officers, along with a police service dog, entered the business announcing their entry and demanding that Deming cooperate. As the officers entered the main auto showroom area they found Deming sitting on top of a car. Several orders were given to Deming and he failed to comply. Several less-lethal deployments were made, all of which were ineffective. As Deming ran away from the officers toward the rear of the business, the police service dog was released in an attempt to prevent his escape. Before the dog could stop him, Deming exited the business through a broken window in the rear, believed to be his original point of entry.

As Deming ran through the broken window he ran past Officer Kunkel, who had been posted to the rear of the business. The officer ordered Deming to stop and he continued to run away so he deployed his Taser hitting Deming in the back. The Taser deployment was ineffective in stopping Deming as he continued to run. The officer began to chase Deming, continued running beginning to escape. The officer began to coordinate a containment perimeter with the other officers via his police radio when Deming suddenly turned and aggressively charged at him. Deming kicked Officer Kunkel in the stomach and began punching him in the head knocking him to the ground. Deming climbed on top of the officer and continued to repeatedly strike him in the face and head. Having hit his head on the concrete and also being struck in the head several times, the officer began to feel as if he was going to lose consciousness. In a last effort to stop the attack, Officer Kunkel used his Taser in Drive-Stun mode connecting with Deming. As the Taser deployment once again failed to stop Deming’s attack, Officer Kunkel, in fear for his life, drew his pistol from his holster and fired one round into Deming’s torso area. Deming continued to strike the officer who then fired two additional rounds, striking Deming at least once in the face.

Hearing the shots ring out, the other officers who were on scene ran to that area and found Deming on the ground with Officer Kunkel lying unresponsive next to him. Deming continued to resist the officers as they handcuffed him, after which they provided him medical aid. Officer’s tending to the injured officer were able to provide aid to him as he became responsive several seconds later.

Deming was transported by the first ambulance that arrived and taken directly to Eden Trauma Center where he later succumbed to his gunshot wounds. The injured officer was taken in a second ambulance to Valley Care Medical Center in Pleasanton and later released. He is still under the care of his doctor as they work to determine the extent of his injuries. Officer Kunkel remains on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.

Video footage was captured by the surveillance video mounted throughout the business. All associated video is being viewed by investigators. Pleasanton Police Detectives are investigating the incident. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is also conducting a parallel investigation, which is normal protocol in an officer involved shooting. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office sent a large team of Crime Scene Investigators with advanced equipment to assist in processing the multiple scene locations in and around the auto dealership.


Officer Involved Shooting - Original Press Release

On July 5, 2015 at a few minutes past 2 am Pleasanton officers responded to the report of a burglar alarm at Specialty Sales Classics auto sales located at 4321 First Street in Pleasanton. Upon arrival, officers saw a white male adult in front of the business acting agitated and aggressive. After refusing the commands of the officers the male fled on foot back into the business. Moments later he left the business from a broken window to the rear of the building and began running. An officer, who had been standing to the rear of the business, ran after the male. An altercation took place between the officer and the male, during which the officer fired his pistol hitting the male. The male was taken via ambulance to Eden Trauma Center where he later succumbed to his injuries. The officer was treated and released for minor injuries at Valley Care Hospital. The officer’s name is not being released at this time. The Alameda County Coroner’s Office is assisting with identifying the male subject.

We are still in the early stages of the investigation and will release more specific information when we have it.