CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Chula Vista has agreed to pay the family of Bradley Munroe $1 million after his parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the officer who shot him.
Munroe, 32, was in the midst of a schizophrenic episode on December 18, 2022, when a Chula Vista Police Officer shot and killed him in a Costco Parking lot.
It was the second time in less than a day that Chula Vista Police responded to a mental health call for the 32-year-old Munroe.
The night before the deadly shooting, Chula Vista Police officers transported Munroe to UC San Diego Health Center on a 5150 call to hold Munroe for 72 hours.
According to the District Attorney's investigation, the hospital was unable to admit Munroe due to a shortage of beds.
A history of mental health calls
Chula Vista Police had dealt with Munroe and his parents on many occasions before his death.
According to the District Attorney, doctors diagnosed Munroe with schizophrenia, paranoia and anxiety when Munroe was 24 years old.
Following the diagnosis, Chula Vista Police responded to eight mental health calls, also known as 5150 calls, to Munroe's parents' Chula Vista Home in six years.
Each time Chula Vista Police took Munroe to a mental health facility for observation.
The 911 Call The Night Before The Shooting
The night before he was killed, December 17, 2022, Chula Vista Police dispatched officers to his parent's home where Munroe lived.
According to police records, Munroe was in the midst of a psychotic break. During this episode he focused on windows, breaking many throughout the home before going to a neighbor's house in an attempt to do the same.
When Chula Vista Police Officers arrived, they used their police dog, tasers, as well as beanbag rounds to immobilize Munroe. Once he was subdued, officers took him to UC San Diego Health Center in Hillcrest to be placed on a 72-hour mental health hold.
But Munroe didn't stay for a 72-hour observation.
Munroe didn't even stay the night.
"He was released within hours due to a lack of bed space," the DA's investigation reads.
Munroe, still in the grips of a psychotic episode, was free.
Less than 24 hours later, Chula Vista Police encountered Munroe for what would be the final time.
The Shooting Death of Bradley Munroe
Just before 8:30 p.m. on December 18, 2022, Chula Vista Police dispatchers received multiple calls about a man, later identified as Munroe, hitting car windows and ramming cars with a wheelchair in the Walmart parking lot on Broadway and Naples.
Body camera footage shows canine handler Officer Alfonso Perdomo getting out of his car and grabbing his police dog from the back seat.
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"Stop, get on the ground or you're going to get bit," yelled Officer Perdomo.
Munroe is seen walking towards the bed of a black pickup truck, wearing two orthopedic boots, his wheelchair sits a few feet away.
After issuing another warning, Officer Perdomo warns Munroe again, before calling into dispatch that Munroe is holding a pocket knife.
"Get on the ground. You're going to get shot, dude," said Perdomo, less than thirty seconds after arriving on the scene.
Munroe climbed into the truck bed and tried to smash the rear window. Seconds later he got out of the truck bed.
Officer Perdomo warned Munroe that he was going to shoot.
Munroe limped in Perdomo's direction. Perdomo fired six times.
Munroe died at the scene.
In December 2023, Munroe's parents filed a lawsuit against the city of Chula Vista and Officer Perdomo.
In July 2024, the city of Chula Vista agreed to settle the lawsuit for $1 million.
Munroe's parents declined to speak about the settlement.
Their attorney, Doug Gilliland, called the settlement a "small step towards justice for the mentally ill."
CBS 8 reached out to UCSD Medical Center to inquire more about bed availability, but a spokesperson said they couldn't comment due to pending litigation.
Chula Vista Police and the city also declined to comment.
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