A recently released video and audio footage shed light on the tragic death of 15-year-old Savannah Graziano, who was fatally shot by San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies during a gun battle on a Southern California highway. The incident occurred on September 27, 2022, when Savannah, who had been kidnapped by her father, was following a deputy's instructions and appeared to be surrendering.
The deputies pursued Anthony Graziano's pickup truck for approximately 70 miles along Highway 15 before the vehicles came to a stop in Hesperia, about 35 miles north of Fontana. The pursuit involved shots being fired from both the driver's side and the passenger's side of the truck, with the circumstances of the gunfire remaining unclear.
As Savannah exited the pickup truck and ran towards a deputy for safety, she was tragically shot just steps away from reaching safety. Despite the deputy's repeated commands for her to come towards him, gunfire erupted from a higher elevation, resulting in her death. The deputy's pleas to cease shooting were captured by his belt recorder, highlighting the chaotic and tragic nature of the event.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has not released autopsy reports for Savannah, her father, or her mother, Tracy Martinez, who was killed by Anthony Graziano a day prior to the highway incident. The department also did not disclose the names of the deputies involved in the shooting.
Authorities revealed that Savannah had witnessed her mother's slaying from the backseat of her father’s pickup truck but did not intervene. The tragic events unfolded as Anthony Graziano, who had moved out of the family home amid a divorce, carried out a violent attack near an elementary school, endangering students and parents.
Following the shooting in Fontana, an Amber Alert was issued for Savannah, although questions arose later regarding whether she had willingly accompanied her father. The ongoing investigation by the state Department of Justice aims to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
