Richard "Pedie" Perez

Richard “Pedie” Perez III, 24, was shot three times by Richmond police officer Wallace Jensen on 14 September 2014. According to the police report, Jensen was conducting a security check at Uncle Sam’s Liquor Store and tried to apprehend an unarmed, intoxicated Perez, telling a friend who was trying to take Perez to her home that she herself should “Go the f— home.” Jensen ordered Perez to sit on the curb, and when Perez got up, wanting to go, Jensen grabbed him in a bearhug-style hold and tackled him to the ground. Perez struggled to free himself of Jensen’s constricting grasp. Then the officer stood up, stepped back and, as Perez protested “Don’t shoot,” shot Perez in the torso and stomach.

When the alarmed friend tried to approach the store, Jensen put his gun in her face and told her if she didn’t back up, she’d be laying right down with him. Jensen and the Richmond PD immediately and repeatedly claimed that Perez had tried to grab Jensen’s gun, and therefore the cop shot him in self-defense, whereas all four eyewitnesses, including the liquor store clerk, have disputed that account. There was no sign of Perez’s DNA on the gun or holster. The Mercury News has reported that Perez made a 911 call shortly before he was shot but Richmond has never made it public.

In early 2015 the Contra Costa County DA ruled Jensen’s actions in Perez’s killing were justified. Jensen, then in his 30s, was awarded industrial disability retirement, which gives him $70,700 annually for the rest of his life.

A civil rights lawsuit brought by the Law Office of John Burris resulted in $850,000 for the Perez family in February 2016. A 2018 report from the Richmond City Council-appointed Community Police Review Commission (CPRC) found that “DNA analysis showed no evidence of Mr. Perez’s DNA on the gun or holster,” that “gunshot trajectory analysis showed that Mr. Perez was close to the ground and likely facing away from Jensen when he was struck by the first bullet,” and that it was “Jensen (who) initiated physical violence directed at Mr. Perez despite Perez posing no threat to Jensen or anyone else at the scene.” However, this toothless commission could, according to its statute, go no further than to rule that Jensen had used “unnecessary force.” On the very next day after the CPRC report, the Contra Costa County DA’s office upheld that there would be no prosecution of Perez’s killer.

Perez’ mother Julie, who died in January 2025, and his father Rick Perez fought on his behalf for more than a decade, along with the Oscar Grant Committee, of which Rick is an active member. His grandmother Patricia Perez is an OPA endorser. The Perez family has continually lobbied the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office to release their investigative findings, including a copy of the police report of their son’s shooting and a transcript of the 911 phone call Perez made minutes before being shot, none of which have they ever received.

In September 2023, Richmond City Council declared September 14, the anniversary of Perez’ murder, to be “Richard ‘Pedie’ Perez III Day” and in September 2024 renamed the street where the Perez family business is located near Uncle Sam’s Liquor Store “Pedie Perez Avenue.” Two Richmond city council members have even endorsed OPA. But still the killer cop walks free and draws a pension.

It is outrageous that Jensen has never been charged and that this information is still secret! Jail the killer cop! We demand all police archives be opened to public scrutiny, in this case the release of all statements made by Jensen regarding the encounter along with the police report and any recordings (audio and video) of the incident including Perez’ 911 call. The Perez family and the public must have all incident reports and all witness statements.