Full Notification

Location:  Fremont Blvd. and Nicolet Ave                                 
Date/Time of Incident: April 5, 2018 at 6:47 p.m.
              
On April 5, 2018, an officer involved shooting occurred while Fremont Police Officers attempted to arrest wanted suspect Nathaniel Prasad.  Prasad, an 18 year old Hayward resident, was wanted on a felony firearms possession warrant, a felony probation warrant and a misdemeanor evading arrest warrant for fleeing from a Fremont School Resource Officer on March 22. 
 
On April 5, 2018 at 6:47 p.m., the Fremont Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit identified Prasad as a passenger in a vehicle that was being driven by a female in the area of Central Ave and Fremont Blvd.  The vehicle was known to be associated with Prasad.  The Street Crimes Unit officers broadcast information over the police radio about the vehicle and the active warrants and requested marked patrol units to assist with a traffic stop.
 
Two patrol officers responded to the area, activated their emergency lights and siren, and stopped the suspect vehicle just prior to the intersection of Fremont Blvd. and Nicolet Ave.  The driver of the vehicle stopped and Prasad fled from the right passenger side of the car on foot.  One of the patrol officers followed Prasad to the rear of the Arco Gas station located at the corner of Fremont Blvd. and Nicolet Ave.  The officer, who was dressed in full police uniform, stopped his vehicle and quickly got out to confront Prasad.  Prasad pulled a firearm from his waist area and it appears that he fired one to two shots in the direction of the officer.  The officer drew his duty weapon, returned fire and broadcast over the police radio that the suspect had a gun.  Prasad ran back toward Fremont Blvd.   This interaction was captured on video surveillance and was corroborated by statements of the involved officer and witnesses at the scene.         
 
Additional police officers arrived to the area of the gas station.  A double patrol unit consisting of two officers (both in full police uniform and driving a fully marked police vehicle) and a police K9, stopped along the curb directly in front of the gas station.  Prasad ran toward the officers before veering and running south on Fremont Blvd into the oncoming lanes of traffic.  The K9 was deployed as they began to chase Prasad.  Three officers from the Street Crimes Unit and an additional patrol officer also exited their vehicles and began to pursue Prasad on foot.
 
During the time the six officers were giving chase, Prasad pulled a gun from his waist area, pointed it in the direction of the officers and it appears he fired at least one round.  This interaction is corroborated by the statements of the involved officers, statements of witnesses, the body worn camera footage and in-car camera footage of the event.  In response, the officers shot in the direction of Prasad, striking him several times, causing him to fall.  On the ground, Prasad still had the weapon in his hand and officers fired additional rounds.
 
The officers developed a plan to safely approach Prasad. Officers removed the firearm from the area, secured Prasad and provided field trauma medical care.  Fremont Fire paramedics arrived, took over medical care, and announced Prasad was deceased shortly thereafter.  No officers were injured during the incident.
 
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Prasad’s mother.  She was transported back to the Fremont Police Department where she provided a statement to investigators. 
 
The firearm in Prasad’s possession was a .22 caliber revolver.  When officers examined the weapon at the scene, it had three spent casings and three empty cylinders.  A records check revealed it was reported stolen.  The recovery of the firearm from Prasad was captured via body worn camera and corroborated by witness statements.
 
The involved Fremont Police personnel were Sergeant Kurtis Romley, CSI Officer Calvin Gaziano, K9 Officer Jared Madsen, Officer Craig Perry, Officer Thomas Degenstein, Officer Jamil Roberts and Officer Ralph Meredith.
 
The Fremont Crimes Against Persons Unit and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene and are independently investigating this incident.   The involved officers range in years of experience from 7 months to 24 years of service.  The officers were all placed on paid administrative leave, as per department policy, immediately following the incident. 
 
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please call the Fremont Police Department’s Investigative Unit at 510-790-6900 or send an anonymous tip by texting TIP FREMONTPD followed by your message to 888-777, or via the web at https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/6216337.
 
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