By james art 
Upland Police have released detailed information regarding the Jan. 12, 2025, officer-involved shooting that left 36-year-old Steven Espinosa dead. The incident began in a residential complex in the 1300 block of Blvd. W. Foothill, escalated into a pursuit and ended half a mile into a residential area in the 800 block of N. Mountain Ave. Authorities addressed misinformation spread online and clarified key details using body-worn camera footage.
Officers responded to the apartment complex at 9:58 a.m. after Espinoza’s sister reported that he was under the influence of fentanyl, armed with a knife and threatening to hurt him. In the 911 call, she said, “This is an ongoing thing and I’ve had enough. He already pulled a knife out of me. He said he would hold us and himself hostage. Espinoza, who knew the police were on their way, left the apartment and got into his car.
Police say Espinosa led them on a short chase down Blvd. Foothill, crossing a Chevron gas station before his car overturned. After that, he fled on foot to a nearby apartment complex, armed with two knives. The officers repeatedly instructed Espinosa to remove his hands from his pockets as they chased him. Body-worn camera footage shows officers giving those commands at least seven times before the situation escalated further.
When less lethal measures were used, including the 40 mm launcher, they were ineffective. Espinosa continued to reach into his waistband, where officers later found two knives. Officers then resorted to deadly force, citing the immediate threat to public safety and responding officers.
After the shooting, officers provided medical aid, as captured by body-worn cameras. Despite their efforts, Espinoza died from his injuries at a local hospital. No employees or bystanders were injured during the incident.
The video below was released by the Upland Police Department, featuring dash cam footage of an officer’s mutilated body.
Online speculation and police response
Videos of the meeting, widely shared on YouTube, led to public speculation and false claims. On the Key News Network’s YouTube channel, commenters like @paco4808 stated, “He was on the ground being electrocuted, he couldn’t control his body and was electrocuting while the police were also telling him not to move so they shot him , for disobeying commands. Another commenter, Marie Carlos, wrote: “I think this was so messed up when he was already tased but the Upland police do a lot of dirty stuff on the streets and get away with it.”
Police in the Highlands directly addressed those claims, stressing that body-worn camera footage confirmed the taser was never used. “The sound heard in the video, believed by some to be a taser, is from the suspect’s overturned vehicle,” the department said.
The footage also shows Espinoza running through the residential area with knives in his pockets. He was given at least seven verbal commands to remove his hands from his pockets. Despite these commands, Espinoza repeatedly reached for his waistband, prompting officers to escalate to deadly force after less lethal methods proved ineffective.
Police transparency and ongoing investigation
Upland Police Chief Marcelo A. Blanco reinforced the department’s commitment to transparency, saying, “Our goal is to be transparent with our community and share as much information as possible when critical incidents occur without compromising an active investigation.”
Espinosa, a known affiliate of the Black Angels gang – a dominant gang in Ontario for more than 60 years – had a lengthy criminal history, including two counts of attempted murder, petty theft, drug offenses and a criminal protection order. In the recorded dispatch call, his sister warned that Espinoza was likely to be combative, which was consistent with his actions during the incident.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office are conducting independent investigations into the incident. Upland Police also conducts administrative review to ensure compliance with department policies.
Police stressed that the use of force was a last resort after Espinoza posed an immediate threat to public safety and repeatedly disobeyed commands. Authorities promised to provide additional updates as investigations progress.