Deputy Shoots Woman with Replica Handgun in Stockton

Body‑camera footage released Monday shows a San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputy confronting 46‑year‑old Erica Lee Johnson during a traffic stop near Stockton on June 23. The deputy warned Johnson not to reach for what appeared to be a handgun in her lap. She reached again, and the officer fired, believing she was drawing a real pistol. The weapon was later identified as an air‑powered replica handgun. Johnson sustained non‑life‑threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.

San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow addressed the community, noting the difficulty officers face in distinguishing realistic replica firearms and emphasizing the rapid decisions required in such encounters. The incident followed a report of an argument between two women and has reignited discussion about police use of force and identification of replica weapons.