Two investigations are underway after a horrific vehicle accident left the passenger, a young mother, dead and the driver fighting for his life after being shot by a Paradise police officer.
Authorities, including the California Department of Justice, highway patrol and the Butte County District Attorney’s office are trying to piece together exactly what transpired at the scene of a fatal roll-over accident around midnight Thanksgiving morning.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey summed up the initial results.
“The preliminary findings of the investigation show that the shooting was the result of an accidental discharge of Officer Patrick Feaster’s side arm,” he said.
According to Ramsey, Feaster trained a .45 caliber Glock pistol on 26-year-old Andrew Thomas as Thomas attempted to climb from a Toyota 4-Runner that had crashed and rolled onto its side. Feaster’s weapon went off, striking Thomas in the neck.
Feaster told responding officers that he did not intentionally fire the weapon. Ramsey said video evidence shows the officer being surprised that the gun went off. Ramsey said about one second elapsed between when Feaster unholstered the weapon and when it fired.
“Did this gun go off by itself? Or, did it, as we expect did it have to have someone’s finger, Officer Feaster’s finger on the trigger?” Ramsey said.
The weapon is being tested by the state Department of Justice for malfunction.
Darien Ehorn, 23, was ejected from the vehicle when it struck a median and died at the scene. It is believed that Ehorn was not wearing a seatbelt.
DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges are pending against Thomas, who remains hospitalized. Feaster has been placed on paid administrative leave.