(NationRise.com) – New evidence appears to show that police were lying in their testimony about a case involving the death of a teenage girl.
Savannah Graziano, 15, was kidnapped by her father in September 2022 after he allegedly murdered her mother, 45-year-old Tracy Martinez. An amber alert was issued shortly after for the father’s Nissan Frontier. Police pursued the two as they fled down a highway in California’s desert. The chase eventually led to a shootout between police and 45-year-old John Graziano, the victim’s father.
Savannah Graziano suffered a hit during the gunfight. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead late in the morning. Authorities initially didn’t specify whether the bullet that struck her came from her father or officers. Her father was shot dead at the scene. Police later claimed they shot Savannah Graziano in self-defense as she began shooting at them while wearing tactical gear.
However, newly released video footage of the incident contradicts those claims. In it, the girl can be seen following police instructions as they guided her to their vehicle. She was already far from her father’s truck in a different direction as she crouched and walked towards them. She was about halfway towards a police vehicle when they gunned her down. No weapons were seen in her hands.
The police who pursued her father for 70 miles before the shootout were not wearing body cameras. However, audio from the incident captured one officer telling the girl to walk towards him. Moments later, he can be heard pleading with his colleagues to stop shooting at her, saying that her father was still in the vehicle. A deputy was also injured during the incident.
Savannah Graziano had a brother from both parents. John Graziano also had a son from a previous relationship. Authorities said both of the boys were safe.
The footage and audio were released after requests from reporters under a California Public Records request.
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