Authorities say that the California teen who died after allegedly taking pictures a number of rounds with deputies had apparently witnessed her father killing her mom the day earlier than.
Fontana police initially believed that 15-year-old Savannah Graziano was kidnapped by her father Anthony, who additionally died within the shootout on Tuesday. An Amber Alert was issued for Savannah’s disappearance, however California detectives are actually questioning the kidnapping idea after it emerged that she possible participated within the shootout together with her father.
On Monday, 45-year-old Anthony Graziano allegedly shot his estranged spouse, Tracy Martinez, a number of occasions earlier than firing at a close-by automobile. Anthony and Savannah had moved out of Martinez’s home just lately.
Officers now consider that Savannah was sitting behind her dad’s truck when he fatally shot her mom. Martinez recognized her husband as her killer shortly earlier than dying, however didn’t point out her daughter being current.
CALIFORNIA TEEN SUBJECT OF AMBER ALERT KILLED IN SHOOTOUT BETWEEN FATHER AND DEPUTIES, AUTHORITIES SAY
Witnesses and movies corroborate that the teenage lady stayed nonetheless whereas her mother screamed. Footage confirmed Savannah sitting inside Anthony’s truck for 30 to 60 seconds earlier than the taking pictures began, and {the teenager} didn’t get out of the automobile as soon as the pictures started.
“She’s simply sitting within the backseat,” Sgt. Christian Surgent stated to the Related Press.
On the day after the homicide, a witness noticed Savannah’s father’s automobile and alerted authorities, inflicting a prolonged automobile chase alongside a desert interstate with deputies. Photographs had been fired from a rifle in Anthony’s pick-up truck, however his automobile ultimately grew to become disabled after driving off the freeway.
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A shooter from his automobile additionally fired a number of rounds by a patrol automobile’s windshield and disabled one other pursuing automobile.
Anthony died within the truck, however Savannah was killed when she ran in direction of officers throughout the gunfire. {The teenager} was carrying a helmet and tactical gear on the time.
Authorities discovered tactical gear, rifles, handguns, smoke grenades and hundreds of ammunition rounds in Anthony Graziano’s storage unit – which was all legally owned. Savannah’s youthful brother advised investigators that he and Savannah grew up round weapons.
Authorities are figuring out whether or not Savannah was fatally shot by the officers or her father.
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Police haven’t publicly launched footage of the shootout amid the investigation, which is being assisted by the California Division of Justice.
The Related Press contributed to this report.