An aspiring actor, Jesse Dominguez, was fatally shot by a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer on a Los Angeles freeway during what his family claims was a likely mental health crisis. Dominguez, 33, was living in a sober living facility due to drug addiction and working as a waiter. According to his stepmother, Akasha Dominguez, the family had always "backed the blue" but now sees the incident as "absolute police brutality." She expressed her disbelief at the officer's decision to engage with Dominguez, stating that he was clearly going through a crisis and was not intending to harm anyone. The family also mentioned that Dominguez carried a Taser for protection after being threatened by others living at the sober facility.

The incident occurred after CHP officers responded to reports of Dominguez walking along the 105 Freeway in Watts, not far from the sober living facility where he lived. When the officer confronted Dominguez, he was able to access the Taser and used it against the officer. In fear for his safety, the officer fired his service weapon, striking Dominguez. Graphic video footage shared online shows Dominguez and the officer wrestling on the ground before the officer fires multiple shots at him. The family questioned why the officer felt the need to engage with Dominguez in the first place, given his apparent crisis, and why deadly force was used despite Dominguez having a Taser.

Dominguez's family described him as a “softie” who had lost his way in the pursuit of his acting dreams in California. His father, Jesse Dominguez, expressed his sadness at the loss and blamed the allure of the Hollywood scene for his son's struggles. The family believes that L.A. robbed him of his potential.

The California Department of Justice is currently investigating the shooting. The officer's name and further details about the altercation, including the number of shots fired, have not been released. The CHP referred media inquiries to the state attorney general's office. The use of a Taser by Dominguez is not considered a lethal weapon under state law, prompting the attorney general's office to review the incident.

The incident has sparked controversy and concern, with David Dusenbury, a retired deputy chief of police in Long Beach, describing the video footage as "extremely troubling." Dusenbury called for additional context and footage to be released to assess the situation fully. He questioned the officer's actions, stating that the shooting did not appear to be a justified use of force. Dusenbury suggested that the officer should have waited for backup and approached Dominguez cautiously from a distance.

The California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the union representing rank-and-file officers, did not provide a comment on the incident. Highway patrol officers are not required to wear body cameras, but in-car cameras are used by the agency.

Jesse Dominguez's cause of death has not been officially determined, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office. Dominguez's family believes that he was likely experiencing a mental health episode or drug-fueled crisis at the time of the shooting. He had been struggling with substance abuse, serious mental health disorders, and homelessness.