California police review could strip two LAPD officers of certification after 2021 fatal shooting

Sat, 02 May 2026 21:35:00 +0200

California's police accreditation body, the Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training (POST), is considering revoking the certifications of two LAPD officers, José Zavala and Julio Quintanilla, after they fatally shot Margarito Lopez Jr. in December 2021. Lopez, a 22-year-old suicidal man armed with a butcher knife, had been sitting on the steps of his apartment when officers confronted him following a 911 call from his sister. Body camera footage shows that officers used both less-lethal and lethal rounds, despite Lopez not appearing to pose a threat to anyone else. An advisory board concluded there was “clear and convincing evidence” of excessive force and recommended the officers’ certifications be suspended or revoked. If POST rules against them, the officers may appeal to an administrative law judge. This case marks the first time California officers face possible decertification for an on-duty shooting, following the passage of Senate Bill 2 in 2021, which increased acc