Samuel Daniel Killed in Madera Police Shooting

Samuel Santiago Daniel Shot and Killed by Madera Police While Holding a Replica Gun as Officers Prepared to Leave a Call With No Major Crime

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (October 31, 2026) – A 26-year-old man identified as Samuel Daniel was killed in a police shooting outside a home in Madera.

Madera County officials are saying that the shooting occurred around 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, September 27. Samuel Daniel was inside a home in the 1400 block of Kennedy Street, near Lake Street, in the midst of an apparent crisis when police were called around noon for reports of a person acting erratically and flooding the residence, according to FOX26.

When officers arrived, Samuel Daniel had locked himself in a room, and the family inside was able to get out safely. Madera Police Chief Giachino Chiaramonte told ABC30 that officers determined no major crime had occurred and that their goal was to disengage.

As officers were preparing to leave, Samuel Daniel allegedly came out of the home and presented what appeared to be a firearm, according to police. Two officers opened fire.

Officers provided first aid, but Samuel Daniel died at the scene. Investigators later determined that he had been holding a replica firearm.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. The California Department of Justice is investigating the shooting under AB 1506, which requires state review of police shootings that kill unarmed civilians.

The shooting is the second fatal officer-involved shooting in Madera County this year to come under DOJ review, following a June 19 deputy shooting.

In July 2025, the county launched H.E.A.R.T Madera, a team pairing law enforcement with behavioral health staff for crisis intervention.

In 2024, the Ninth Circuit ruled in Scott v. Smith that officers used excessive force against a man in a mental health crisis who was not suspected of any crime. That ruling has prompted debate across California about who should respond to calls like this one.

Whether a mental health clinician was called to Kennedy Street before officers prepared to leave remains an open question.

Liability for Madera Police Shootings

Police use of deadly force in California is governed by the Fourth Amendment and a strict state standard. Under AB 392, which amended Penal Code section 835a in 2019, officers may use deadly force only when they reasonably believe it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. The law requires that this decision be judged in light of the totality of the circumstances, including the conduct of both the officer and the subject leading up to the use of force. It also directs officers to use other available resources and techniques when doing so is reasonably safe and feasible. Families who believe a police shooting was unjustified can pursue civil rights claims under federal law and negligence claims under state law. Courts examining these cases look closely at several recurring issues:

• De-escalation: Officers are expected to slow encounters down, create distance, and use time to their advantage when possible.
• Crisis resources: Agencies should have clear procedures for bringing mental health professionals into crisis calls.
• Threat assessment: Officers must evaluate whether a person poses an actual, imminent threat rather than react to appearances alone.
• Body cameras: Recorded footage often provides the clearest picture of what officers saw and how quickly they acted.
• Training: Departments must train officers on crisis intervention and the legal limits on deadly force.

California’s highest court has made clear that what happens before shots are fired matters. In Hayes v. County of San Diego (2013), the California Supreme Court reviewed the death of a man shot by sheriff’s deputies who had responded to a call at his home and learned he was suicidal. The man walked toward the deputies holding a large knife, and both deputies fired. The Court held that officers’ tactical conduct and decisions leading up to the use of deadly force are relevant in deciding whether that force was reasonable under California negligence law. That principle means investigators and courts look at the entire encounter, not only the final moments.

What the Numbers Show About Police Force and Mental Health

California collects detailed data on every police use of force that causes serious injury or death. According to the California Department of Justice, 127 civilians died in use-of-force incidents statewide in 2025. Officers reported observing signs of mental disability in 99 of the civilians involved in those incidents and signs of erratic behavior in 92. The same report found that 22 civilians were confirmed to have been carrying replica firearms. Families affected by these incidents should understand several key points:

• Independent review: Under AB 1506, the state DOJ investigates police shootings that kill unarmed civilians, rather than leaving the review to the local agency.
• Replica weapons: Replica and toy guns can be difficult to distinguish from real firearms, which is why careful threat assessment matters.
• Crisis lines: Many California counties operate behavioral health crisis lines that families can call instead of or in addition to 911.
• Investigation timelines: State reviews can take many months, and families may wait a long time for official findings.
• Family voices: Families often hold critical information about a loved one’s history and needs that never appears in early police statements.

Behind every number in these reports is a family trying to understand why a call for help ended in a death. Communities are still working to build systems that send the right responders to these situations. Transparency and independent review are essential to rebuilding trust when they fail. Families have the right to full answers and to pursue accountability when a loved one’s death may have been preventable.

Investigating Police Shootings in Madera

We at Feher Law offer our deepest condolences to the family of Samuel Daniel. We hope this tragedy leads to full transparency and changes that help more crisis calls end safely. This shooting raises serious safety concerns about how police respond to people in mental health crises. What options did officers have in the final moments of a call they were already preparing to leave?

Have you or a loved one been affected by a police shooting in Madera or elsewhere in Madera County? The law limits when officers may use deadly force, and families have the right to hold agencies accountable when those limits are crossed. Early official accounts of police shootings are often preliminary and incomplete, and the agency involved controls much of the evidence. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from body camera footage and dispatch recordings to use-of-force policies and witness accounts that may tell a different story than first reports. If you have questions about your rights or would like a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.