GERAGOS & GERAGOS

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
LAWYERS
HISTORIC ENGINE CO. NO. 28
644 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California 90017-3411
Telephone (213) 625-3900
Facsimile (213) 625-1600
Geragos@Geragos.com

November 25, 2015

Victim of November 22, 2015 Officer Involved Shooting Death by

Fontana PD Identified as James Daniel Hall
James Daniel Hall was the victim of an officer-involved shooting by Fontana PD the morning
of November 22, 2015. James was born November 25, 1968 and would have turned 47 today.
James is survived by four siblings Merry James, David Hall, Karen Hall, and Julie Karbginsky.
James is remembered by friends, siblings, and extended family as peaceful and kindhearted. In 2010,
James was awarded a Citizen Citation from the Oakland County Sheriffs Office for assisting in the
rescue of a 4 year-old autistic child.
James himself was disabled and diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. James was also
legally blind. James was not observed by family, friends, or those who knew him as having violent
tendencies because of his mental illness. The portrayal of James by Fontana PD to the media in the
aftermath of his death is at odds with how James was remembered.
The Hall family is demanding answers from Fontana PD and an independent investigation into
the facts and circumstances surrounding the OIS death. The family was, and still is, denied access to
view and identify James. The family has received almost no communication from Fontana PD or any
investigating agency. The family is puzzled and alarmed by characterizations of the incident as an
armed robbery when the only facts released were that James was outside the Chevron station the
entire time until police arrived and drew their guns. James lived down the block from the station.
The family is demanding that they be immediately provided access to the surveillance footage
from inside and outside the Chevron station which should conclusively show what occurred. The
family is also demanding access to the 911 recordings, police radio communications, dashboard
cameras and body cameras.
James family has retained Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas of Geragos & Geragos, to guide
the family and ascertain the truth of how and why James was killed.
We have grave concerns regarding the police practices leading up to this tragic death of a man
who was legally blind and suffering from mental illness. The family has requested all inquiries be
directed to family attorneys Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas.

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Photographs of James Daniel Hall