PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) – Police say they had no choice but to shoot and
kill a Camp Pendleton Marine after he refused to pull over, drove into one
officer, and tried to drive off with another officer hanging halfway out of his
car window.
The Marine repeatedly ignored orders to stop after being approached by
officers on bike patrol around 2 a.m. Saturday, the Palm Springs Police
Department said in a statement Monday.
One of the officers partially climbed into the passenger window to stop the
car, but the Marine accelerated, striking the other officer, the department
said. The Marine kept driving with the officer hanging out of the window until
the car crashed near the garage exit, it said.
Both officers were treated for injuries at a hospital and released. They
have been placed on administrative leave while the department investigates.
The Marine died at the scene and the lone passenger, another Marine, was not
injured, authorities said.
"In the course of these events, fearing for their safety and the safety
of others both officers discharged their weapons," the statement said.
The Desert Sun identified the Marine who was shot as Cpl. Allan DeVillena II
and said his family contacted the newspaper.
Police said authorities later found a smartphone in the car that was reported
stolen by someone whose identification card was found in the Marine's pants
pocket.
The lone passenger was arrested for investigation of public intoxication and
for an unrelated misdemeanor warrant then released. Police did not release his
name.
DeVillena's father, Alan DeVillena, told the newspaper his son and the
passenger had gone out to celebrate the 237th birthday of the Marine Corps,
which was Saturday.
The father said the family was headed to Palm Springs to find out what had happened
after being notified of his son's death by the Marine Corps.
The newspaper reported both Marines were with the 1st Marine Logistics Group
based in Camp Pendleton, but the men were stationed at
Twentynine Palms.
Marine Corps officials could not be immediately reached for comment Monday
when many offices were closed for Veterans Day.
DeVillena said his son served in Afghanistan and was due to finish
his four-year enlistment in about two months. He said he planned to attend
college.
"He was looking to get into audio engineering," DeVillena told the
newspaper. "He wanted to get into recording. He wrote a lot. He had a
passion for music."
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.)
