BART PD releases video of Union City police shooting

(KRON) -- Three weeks after a BART Police Department officer shot 32-year-old Jasmine Gao in the Union City BART parking lot, officer-worn body camera video of the incident was released Friday by transit officials.

Video recorded by the two responding officers (Warning: Video contains graphic content that may disturb some viewers) in the Nov. 18 shooting was released Friday “to provide full transparency and accountability in this unfortunate incident,” BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin said. Gao was hospitalized and later discharged after being shot in the upper torso by BART PD Officer Nicholas Poblete, according to authorities.

The recording begins with Officer Poblete inside his vehicle, driving to the Union City BART parking lot before activating his lights and sirens and making contact with Gao while she was inside her vehicle. According to police, officers were responding to a report of reckless driving. In the video, Poblete explains to Gao that her vehicle allegedly matched the description of a vehicle that was doing donuts in the parking lot.

After talking back and forth between Gao and the two officers, the officers appear to conclude that Gao was not the one who was doing donuts in the parking lot. “You have a good night, ma’am,” Poblete says while turning back toward his patrol car.

After a short pause, Poblete turns back and mentions to Gao that dispatch earlier informed him that her vehicle had expired registration. “I do have to address that,” Poblete says.

As the two are talking about the car’s registration, Poblete asks to see Gao’s driver’s license, which he holds onto after it's handed over. After nearly two more minutes of talking, Gao is seen suddenly grabbing her identification from Poblete's hand. The interaction quickly changes tone.

A struggle ensues between the officers and Gao as the officers are heard repeatedly asking her to exit the vehicle. As Poblete is seen physically holding Gao through the car door window, the window pane begins to roll up and the car suddenly accelerates. Gunshots ring out nearly instantaneously.

According to the investigation, Poblete fired his weapon three times, striking Gao. Two minutes after she was wounded by the gunfire and placed into handcuffs, the officers are seen giving first aid. She was transported to a nearby hospital with serious injuries before recovering and later discharged, BART PD said.

Neither officer was reported to be injured in the incident.

“I want to assure the public that all aspects of this incident will be thoroughly investigated,” Chief Franklin said. “Due to the seriousness of this incident, we have retained an experienced third-party investigator to conduct the internal administrative investigation to ensure an unbiased and objective review.”

Officer Poblete has worked for BART PD in the Operations Bureau for six and a half years, according to transit officials. He has remained on administrative leave since the shooting.

The day after the shooting, BART PD said Gao would be booked into the Alameda County jail after being medically cleared for charges of assault with a deadly weapon, reckless evading of a peace officer, ignoring a court order and resisting an officer. The case has been referred to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.