Shaleem Tindle

The Washington Post's Fatal Force database records Shaleem Tindle in a fatal on-duty police shooting on 2018-01-03 in Oakland, CA. Individual circumstances and legal outcome require case-specific review.

What happened

Sahleem Tindle, 28, was shot three times in the back by BART police Officer Joseph Mateu outside the West Oakland transit station on January 3, 2018. Mateu was responding to reported gunfire and encountered Tindle struggling with another man on the sidewalk. Body-camera footage showed Mateu approaching with his gun drawn, shouting for the men to show their hands, and shooting within seconds. Police asserted Tindle had been armed in the struggle; his family maintained that he was trying to surrender when shot. Alameda County prosecutors declined to charge Mateu criminally. Tindle's family brought a federal excessive-force case. Following a hung jury at the first trial, a second jury concluded that Tindle had been attempting to surrender and rejected Mateu's description of the critical seconds. A federal judge's subsequent written order reviewed the video, witness evidence and verdict. The charging declination and civil jury finding were distinct proceedings with different standards of proof.

Investigation & findings

Individual legal and investigative outcome not yet reviewed.

What happened

Investigation & findings

Sources & records