In a shocking turn of events, three police officers have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Mario Gonzalez, a Northern California man who was pinned facedown on the ground for over five minutes. The charges were announced by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office on the eve of the third anniversary of Gonzalez's tragic death.

The decision to charge officers Eric McKinley, James Fisher, and Cameron Leahy comes two years after the district attorney's predecessor, Nancy O'Malley, concluded that there was insufficient evidence to justify charges against them. At the time, an initial autopsy attributed Gonzalez's death to the "toxic effects of methamphetamine" and various other health conditions.

However, a second autopsy, conducted by the current District Attorney Pamela Price's public accountability unit, concluded that Gonzalez's death was a result of restraint asphyxiation. Based on these findings and an extensive review of the case, Price's office decided to press charges against the officers involved.

The announcement of these charges aims to rebuild trust in a system that has not always been fair, particularly in Alameda County, according to DA Pamela Price. The officers' actions in detaining and arresting Gonzalez, and their subsequent use of force, were deemed objectively reasonable by O'Malley in 2022. However, this new information has prompted a reevaluation of the case.

One of the three officers is no longer employed by the Alameda Police Department, while the remaining two have been placed on administrative leave, as confirmed by the city of Alameda. The police department, police union, and attorneys for Gonzalez's family have yet to comment on the charges.

Gonzalez's death occurred on April 19, 2021, just one day before the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd. The incident drew comparisons to Floyd's tragic fate, as body-camera footage released by the police showed officers pinning Gonzalez to the ground.

In December, the city of Alameda reached two separate settlement agreements with Gonzalez's family. One agreement would provide $11 million to his estate, while the other would pay $350,000 to his mother. It remains unclear whether these agreements were finalized and how the charges against the officers will impact them.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, the officers could face up to four years in prison. This case serves as yet another reminder of the ongoing issue of excessive force and the urgent need for accountability within law enforcement.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.