On July 14th, 2022, Modesto Police Officer Sam Muncy willfully took Paul Chavez Jr’s life though he posed no threat to Muncy, his Partner Sergio Valencia or to anyone. Paul neither threatened them, nor showed any signs he intended any violence. In fact, Paul pleaded with the officers to remain calm up to the moment when Officer Muncy took his life. The officers responded to a call about a “family dispute” after a family member was concerned about Paul's level of intoxication and his behavior. The family needed HELP, but upon arrival, Officer Muncy moved swiftly to execute Paul without reason. A mere 26 seconds after approaching him, Sam Muncy shot and killed Paul in front of his wife and family members. 

Paul lay in the shade on the neighbor’s lawn sleeping it off when the officers approached, Muncy already pointing his gun at him. Neither Officers identified Paul as the subject, nor did they identify themselves as police officers as required by policy. Paul could have easily been another family member or a neighbor, laying on the grass in the shade. Video footage shows Officers Muncy and Valencia rushing toward Paul, weapons drawn, although there was no immediate threat and no reason whatsoever to be in a hurry. The officers had nothing but open space behind them. If they felt they were in any form of danger they could have easily backed up. Despite the open space and abundance of time the two officers rushed the situation, themselves creating the supposed “danger” that officer Muncy used as an excuse to murder Paul within 26 seconds. Paul’s was the 2nd life Muncy has taken on duty.

Without assessing the situation, the officers immediately escalated by reporting over the radio that Paul was uncooperative as they simultaneously continued to needlessly and aggressively encroach upon him, leaving little to no chance of a positive outcome. Officer Valencia fired his taser, and only six seconds later, WITHOUT BOTHERING TO WAIT AND SEE IF THE USE OF THE TASER WAS EFFECTIVE, video footage shows Officer Muncy inexplicably firing two rounds at Paul, who stood in place, simply reeling from the effects of the taser, without making any motion toward either officer. SAM MUNCY HAD NO JUSTIFIABLE REASON FOR TAKING PAUL’S LIFE. Again, he did so in only 26 seconds.

Since Paul’s death, MPD and District Attorney Birgit Fladager have remained ambivalent about the actual facts surrounding Muncy’s decision to kill Paul. Police Chief Brandon Gillespie and the Modesto Police Officers’ Association hide behind a false narrative based on the mere fact that Paul had a tow hitch-his own property-with him at the time. This is simply a convenient excuse and a useful tool to exploit the political nature of extra judicial police killings. 

Paul’s family asks for your help in bringing Sam Muncy to justice and keeping him from killing again. Paul was a human being, a member of the community, a hard working husband and father to his three sons, who will now have to grow up without him. We the people call upon Modesto Chief of Police Brandon Gillespie, Mayor Sue Zwahlen and the Modesto City Council to terminate Officer Sam Muncy’s employment with the Modesto Police Department. Furthermore, we demand that the Stanislaus County District Attorney charge Sam Muncy with murder.