State report concludes investigation into fatal Santa Ana police shooting of Noe Rodriguez
Two Santa Ana police officers involved in the fatal 2024 shooting of Noe Rodriguez Martinez will not face criminal charges, the California Department of Justice found.
The California Department of Justice has concluded its investigation into the fatal December 2024 shooting of 31-year-old Noe Rodriguez Martinez, finding there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that two Santa Ana police officers committed a criminal offense, according to a report released Friday. The investigation was conducted under Assembly Bill 1506, which requires the DOJ to investigate officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian.
To read the State's report, click here.
According to the report, investigators determined there was insufficient evidence to prove Officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra acted unlawfully when they opened fire on Martinez during the Dec. 1, 2024 encounter in Downtown Santa Ana. The report states investigators could not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted without the intent to defend themselves or others from what they reasonably believed was an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.
Officer Luis Casillas, one of the two officers identified in the report, was also involved in the fatal Jan. 1, 2025 shooting of Henry Gonzalez Jr., approximately one month after Martinez's death. The Gonzalez shooting was a separate incident and is not addressed in the DOJ's investigation into Martinez's death.
The Martinez investigation is the second completed AB 1506 review involving a fatal Santa Ana police shooting since the law took effect in 2021. The first examined the September 2021 shooting death of Brandon Lopez.
Timeline of the shooting
According to the report, the incident began at approximately 5:08 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2024, when a passing motorist called 911 to report seeing a man walking through Downtown Santa Ana carrying what appeared to be a shotgun. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate anyone matching the description.
At approximately 5:31 p.m., a Casa Linda Furniture employee called 911 after customers reported seeing a man outside the store holding what they believed was a shotgun and appearing to manipulate or load it. Officers located Martinez about one minute later on North Broadway near the entrance to the Artist Village Apartments.
The Santa Ana Police Department's Critical Incident Video, released in January 2025, includes audio from both 911 calls before transitioning to body-worn camera footage. Because of the cameras' pre-event recording buffer, the initial body camera footage does not include audio. Audio begins shortly before the shooting and captures officers repeatedly ordering Martinez to drop what appeared to be a shotgun while warning they would shoot if he did not comply.
According to the DOJ report, Casillas and Ibarra exited their patrol vehicle, positioned themselves behind the vehicle doors for cover and repeatedly ordered Martinez to drop the apparent weapon.
The report states Martinez did not comply with those commands. Investigators wrote that Martinez removed one hand from what appeared to be a pump-action shotgun and appeared to begin raising or leveling it. According to the report, both officers then fired their service weapons. The shooting lasted about six seconds, and investigators recovered 29 spent 9 mm cartridge casings from the scene.
Following the shooting, officers remained behind cover while additional personnel developed a plan to safely approach Martinez because they believed the apparent firearm remained beneath his body, according to the report. About seven minutes later, officers deployed two 40 mm less-lethal rounds before approaching, handcuffing Martinez and recovering the object. Orange County Fire Authority personnel transported Martinez to Orange County Global Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators later determined the object Martinez had been carrying was a plastic replica pump-action shotgun that closely resembled a real firearm and did not have the orange safety tip commonly found on toy guns.
Witness accounts
The DOJ report includes interviews with several witnesses who encountered Martinez before officers arrived.
According to the report, the first 911 caller told investigators he contacted police because he believed the apparent shotgun posed a danger to people nearby.
Two customers whose observations prompted the second 911 call told investigators they believed Martinez appeared to be loading the apparent shotgun while standing between Casa Linda Furniture and the adjacent parking structure. Instead of continuing to their vehicle, they returned to the furniture store and alerted employees, prompting the second 911 call.
One witness told investigators he came within several feet of Martinez and feared he would be shot if Martinez noticed him. Another witness said she feared Martinez might enter the furniture store and begin shooting people. According to the report, neither witness reported seeing Martinez point the apparent shotgun at anyone before officers arrived.
A nearby taco stand employee also told investigators she saw Martinez manipulating a long object but could not identify it before hearing gunshots.
Officers declined interviews
According to the DOJ report, neither Casillas nor Ibarra voluntarily participated in interviews during the criminal investigation, exercising their constitutional right to decline questioning.
The report notes officers may be compelled to answer questions during an internal administrative investigation, but those statements cannot be used in criminal proceedings and therefore were not considered during the DOJ's review.
DOJ findings
According to the report, investigators reviewed body-worn camera footage, surveillance video, witness interviews, forensic evidence, dispatch records, 911 calls and applicable law before determining there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that either officer committed a criminal offense. The report states its review was limited to whether criminal charges were appropriate and does not address potential civil liability or administrative matters.
Although investigators did not recommend criminal charges, the report recommends the Santa Ana Police Department review several policies and training practices, including firearms training related to backdrop awareness and risks to bystanders, guidance on the use of less-lethal force on individuals who appear incapacitated after being struck by gunfire, and policies governing when officers can safely begin rendering medical aid following shootings involving armed individuals.
According to the Orange County Coroner's findings cited in the report, Martinez died from multiple gunshot wounds. Toxicology testing detected amphetamine and methamphetamine in his system.
In releasing the report, Attorney General Rob Bonta said the findings are intended to provide transparency into the state's review process.
"We hope this report provides a measure of closure for the community, law enforcement, and the family of Mr. Martinez," Bonta said in a statement. "AB 1506 is a critical transparency and accountability tool, and our hope for this report is to provide some understanding and aid in advancing toward a safer California for all."
Officer-involved shooting data
According to Santa Ana Police Department data, the department reported 42 officer-involved shootings from 2016 through 2025. Annual totals were 10 in 2016, nine in 2017, three in 2018, two each in 2019, 2020 and 2021, three in 2022, five in 2023, two in 2024 and four in 2025. SAPD notes that some annual totals include negligent discharges and incidents categorized by the department as involving a dog, rather than officers firing at people.
Santa Ana police shootings and in-custody deaths
Annual incidents reported by the Santa Ana Police Department, 2016–2026
Note: Officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths are separate categories.
SAPD states that its officer-involved shooting totals include two negligent discharges in 2022; two negligent discharges and two incidents categorized as “Dog” in 2023; one negligent discharge in 2024; and one negligent discharge and one incident categorized as “Dog” in 2025.
Source: Santa Ana Police Department, “Officer Involved Shooting / In-Custody Death Data,” revised February 2026. Updated total for 2026 is 3; Jaden Michaca (06/14/2026).
View the underlying data
| Year | Officer-involved shootings | In-custody deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 10 | 0 |
| 2017 | 9 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3* | 3 |
| 2023 | 5* | 2 |
| 2024 | 2* | 0 |
| 2025 | 4* | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 | 0 |
| Reported total | 45 | 16 |
* SAPD attached a footnote to the officer-involved shooting total for that year.
Separately, SAPD reported 16 in-custody deaths during the same 10-year period. The department recorded none in 2016 or 2024; two each in 2017, 2019 and 2023; four in 2018; three in 2022; and one each in 2020, 2021 and 2025.
So far in 2026, Santa Ana police have been involved in three fatal officer-involved shootings, including the recent killing of 15-year-old Jaden Michaca.
