San Francisco, California – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has agreed to pay $10 million to Liza Gold, the mother of Ari Gold, after a federal jury found that two CHP officers violated her son’s constitutional rights by using excessive force when they shot him nearly 45 times, leaving him paralyzed.
The shooting occurred during a high-intensity confrontation in 2019, and while Ari Gold had a criminal history, including being high on methamphetamine and carrying a gun, the jury determined the officers’ actions were unjustified.
The Incident and the Jury’s Verdict
The incident that led to the legal settlement occurred on July 23, 2019, in Salinas, California. Officers from the CHP responded to a non-injury hit-and-run case.
When they arrived at the scene, they found 24-year-old Ari Gold hiding in his grandmother’s bathroom, where he had gone to seek refuge. Gold, who was high on meth and delusional, had stolen a truck and fled after hitting multiple cars.
What followed next was a violent and chaotic encounter with officers, which ended with Gold being shot at 44 times. The CHP officers, Kristi Cho and Christopher Weaver, fired their weapons blindly after Gold allegedly reached for a firearm. The shooting left Gold paralyzed, and he later passed away in January 2023.
Gold’s mother, Liza Gold, filed a complaint in 2020, stating that her son, although having made mistakes, was unjustly shot and denied his constitutional rights. She argued that her son, by the time he encountered the officers, was seeking safety and had already tossed the weapon before the shooting began.
The Legal Battle and Settlement
After a lengthy trial, the jury unanimously sided with Gold’s mother and awarded $9.2 million in damages. The settlement agreement, which was reached in a San Francisco courtroom in May 2023, marks one of several multimillion-dollar settlements paid out by the CHP in recent years.
Despite the ruling, the jury placed roughly 20% of the blame on Gold himself due to his actions prior to the incident.
Legal representation for Gold included father-and-son attorneys Walter and Jeff Walker from the San Francisco firm Walker, Hamilton & Kearns. Jeff Walker emphasized the importance of the verdict, saying that it was a recognition that mistakes should not justify excessive force.
He stated, “It means something that our society recognizes that people can make mistakes, and just because you’ve made mistakes does not mean the police get to shoot you.”
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A Tragic Incident
The shooting began when officers tried to clear the house, responding to a call from Gold’s grandmother. Once inside, Gold, who was hiding in the bathroom, allegedly grabbed a loaded .45 caliber handgun and pointed it at Officer Cho.
According to police reports, the officers, believing they were in danger, opened fire, even though Gold had already tossed the gun.
Gold’s attorneys have maintained that the officers fired recklessly and violated protocols by shooting “blindly” through walls. Gold, who was hit in the shoulder and spinal cord, became a quadriplegic and never regained movement in his limbs.
The CHP did not respond to comment requests following the ruling.
Other CHP Cases of Concern
The $10 million settlement is not the first time the CHP has been involved in a large payout case.
In 2023, the CHP paid $24 million after officers were accused of causing the death of Edward Bronstein during a traffic stop. That same year, another settlement for $7 million was reached after officers fatally shot Erik Salgado during a traffic stop in Oakland.
As a result of this case, California lawmakers and civil rights advocates are continuing to push for police accountability and reforms within law enforcement agencies.
What do you think about this ruling? Do you believe it will make a difference in police accountability? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to visit RidgecrestPact.org for more updates on this important issue.
