LA MESA, Calif. (KGTV) -- Police have released video after a 59-year-old woman was shot in the face with a bean bag round during a protest outside the La Mesa Police Department in late May.
Police Wednesday also identified the officer involved in the incident as Eric Knudson, a 12-year veteran of the department. He is currently on paid leave.
“Rest assured, the men and women of the La Mesa Police Department are committed to providing quality and professional police service to our community. It is my hope, that we will continue to heal the wounds, nurture an environment of open communication, and make La Mesa a safer place to live,” said LMPD Chief of Police Walt Vasquez.
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59-year-old Leslie Furcron was injured after a bean bag round was shot into a crowd of protesters on May 30. She was hospitalized following the incident and later released in June.
Furcron was among the thousands of people in front of the department, where demonstrators gathered following the death of George Floyd.
According to La Mesa Police, the San Diego County District Attorney has been briefed on the case and will review the investigation to determine if the officer bears any criminal liability.
Furcron's attorney, Dante Pride, told 10News that he believes a third party should be investigating the case and the officer who fired the bean bag should face criminal charges if appropriate.
"There should never be a point in time where an officer should shoot a metal projectile bean bag from an elevated position down on a crowd. That is dangerous and it can kill people and it almost killed Ms. Furcron," Pride says.
