On Jan. 29, 2017, plaintiffs’ decedent Steve Salgado, 18, was exiting the passenger side of a vehicle in an alleyway in Santa Ana when he was approached by police. The neighborhood was being patrolled by detectives from the Santa Ana Gang Suppression Unit because of resident complaints about the high volume of violent crimes and gang activity in the area. When Steve was approached by police, he fled on foot. A detective radioed a warning to other officers when he observed Steve with an object that he believed was a gun. Detective David Prewett pursued Steve and issued commands to stop, but Steve continued to run and look over his shoulder. As Steve began to pull an object from his waist, Prewett shot him three times. Steve was pronounced dead at the scene. Steve was searched, and found to not have a gun on him, only a meth pipe and two broken cell phones. Steve’s mother, Maria Macedo (acting individually), and the guardian of Steve’s two minor children, Aylin Diaz (acting individually, on behalf of Steve’s kids and as Steve’s successor in interest) sued Prewett and Prewett’s employer, the city of Santa Ana. Macedo and Diaz alleged that Prewett’s actions constituted excessive force in violation of Steve’s civil rights. Defense counsel contended that because a detective warned about the potential of Steve having a gun and Prewett witnessing Steve pull an object from his waist during the pursuit, Prewett had reason to believe that Steve was pulling a gun from his waist. As a result, counsel maintained that Prewett’s use of force was objectively reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances., Steve sustained three gunshot wounds and died at the scene on Jan. 29, 2017. He was 18 years old. He was survived by his mother, a minor daughter and a minor son. Steve’s family sought recovery of wrongful death damages for the loss of Steve.