The Richmond Police Department released dispatch audio and body-worn camera footage from the Aug. 4 officer-involved shooting in the 400 block of 1st Street, where a man armed with knives was fatally shot after allegedly threatening his family.
At a press conference today, Chief Bisa French said the incident began shortly after 5 p.m., when a 911 caller reported that his brother was inside their home armed with a knife and had threatened to kill both the caller and their mother. Officers were told the man, identified by police as 27 year old Richmond resident Angel Montano, was blocking the family’s exit and, moments later, had armed himself with a second knife.
Upon arriving, officers coordinated a tactical response and attempted to wait for the arrival of less-lethal options such as a 40-millimeter sponge round launcher and a ballistic shield. Those efforts were unsuccessful due to the Montano’s position in the doorway, according to Chief French. Police say they could hear the disturbance escalating inside and, fearing that lives were in imminent danger, decided to intervene without delay.
As officers approached the partially open front door and announced their presence, Montano emerged holding a knife in each hand and advanced toward them, according to police, which shared video and photos from the incident. Commands to stop were ignored, and two officers discharged their firearms, police said. Montano died at the scene. The Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was invoked, with the District Attorney’s Office leading the investigation.
Soon after the incident, members of the media reported that one of the officers involved in the shooting — Nicholas Remick — was involved in a separate officer-involved shooting in February 2025, during which a man holding a knife sheath that was mistaken for a knife was fatally shot.
In today’s press briefing, Richmond police spokesperson Lt. Donald Patchin confirmed Officer Remick’s involvement in the February shooting, which remains under active investigation by the California Department of Justice. He says the investigation significantly limits the department’s ability to release information on the incident. Lt. Patchin further said it is standard policy to place officers involved in fatal incidents on administrative leave, with reinstatement determined on a case-by-case basis by the chief of police after reviewing the incident’s details and ensuring no clear violations of law or policy. Before returning to duty, officers must undergo and pass a mental health evaluation, Lt. Patchin added. Officer Remick was reinstated on Feb. 20 after meeting these requirements, police said.
The Richmond Police Officers Association (RPOA) separately issued a statement criticizing what it described as sensationalized media coverage that focused on the February officer-involved shooting rather than the facts of the Aug. 4 confrontation. The RPOA condemned the early release of the officers’ names, citing California peace officer privacy laws, and urged the public to review the full video before forming conclusions.
Chief French called Montano’s death tragic and deeply unfortunate, offering condolences to his family and acknowledging the broader impact on the community, the department, and the officers involved.
“As a department we are fully committed to the transparency, accountability and thorough review of the events that transpired that day,” the chief said.
The chief further noted that Montano’s family had reportedly been trying for over a year to secure mental health assistance for him, and urged a renewed legislative focus on providing timely help for individuals unable to seek it themselves.
The investigation remains in its early stages, and Chief French says further details will be released as they become available.
