Corona Police Chief Vows Fair Investigation into Fatal Costco OIS

CORONA (CNS) - Corona's police chief said Tuesday that the investigation into
an off-duty Los Angeles police officer's fatal shooting of a man inside a
Costco store will take time and has been partially hampered by an inability to
speak to all of the people involved.
   Chief George Johnstone also vowed that although a police officer was
involved in the shooting, his department will conduct a ``fair, impartial and
thorough investigation.''
   In a video posted online, Johnstone said investigators are speaking to
witnesses and reviewing surveillance video from the store and other
forensic evidence from the Friday night shooting.
   ``This has been the highest priority for our department from the
beginning,'' the chief said. ``A significant amount of resources has been
allocated to this investigation. There has been and continues to be a lot of
work.
   ``Anyone who has seen the news footage can appreciate the chaotic
scene our officers encountered upon arrival. For several reasons, including the
need to interview numerous witnesses and review evidence, no arrest was made at
the time of this incident. This investigation is complex and will take some
time. Our investigation has been somewhat hindered by not being able to
interview all the parties involved.
   ``Once all the evidence is compiled and evaluated, it will be
presented to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, which will
ultimately determine whether to take further action,'' the chief said. ``There
has been a significant amount of speculation on social media regarding this
incident. Most of this information is erroneous and based on hearsay and
speculation. This only serves to stir up the public's emotions. We understand
the public's strong emotional reactions to the circumstances of this case. We
assure you, our department is committed to conducting a fair, impartial and
thorough investigation. We value our partnership with the community.''
   Johnstone said he could not estimate when the investigation will be
completed.
   ``This has been a traumatic few days for the Corona community,'' he
said. ``For all the parties and witnesses involved, I deeply sympathize with
what you are going through. If you are one of those impacted, please talk to
someone or seek professional help.''