Atwater police release body camera video of deadly officer-involved shooting

Authorities released body camera video of an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a 36-year-old Merced man.

According police, the Aug. 13 shooting incident started as a stolen property case.

When authorities attempted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Durango, the driver, identified as Korey Unti, fled in the vehicle and led officers on a chase.

Unti eventually crashed into a parked vehicle at an Atwater apartment complex in the 5000 block of Crest Road.

Atwater Police Chief Michael Salvador said in a video released Tuesday that Unti fired multiple shots at officers during the pursuit. Police said after crashing the vehicle, Unti fled from the vehicle on foot and ran through an apartment complex.

“At the end of the foot pursuit, Mr. Unti pointed a gun at one of our officers,” Salvador in a portion of the video. “That officer discharged his service weapon.”

The video includes body worn camera video, as well as video from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office air unit.

According to police, Unti was detained and officers rendered medical aid. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said officers recovered a semi-automatic handgun from the scene.

Salvador said the officer involved in the shooting incident, Levi Crain, was recently hired by the Atwater Police Department and has been with the agency for roughly five months.

According to Salvador, Crain was placed on administrative leave after the shooting and has since returned to duty. Though fairly new to the Atwater department, Cain is considered a veteran police officer with more than five years of total experience, Salvador said.

“Any loss of life in our community is a tragedy and our condolences go out to Mr. Unti’s loved ones,” read part of an Atwater Police Department news release.

According to Atwater police, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the shooting while the Atwater Police Department is reviewing the incident to ensure department policies and procedures were followed.

“It should be noted that this investigation is still underway and the facts as we know them could change,” Salvador said in the video. “But we feel it’s important to share what we know right now with our community.”