Pasadena police officer shoots colleague during 'horseplay' in department parking lot, chief says

Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times on Jun 11, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LOS ANGELES — A Pasadena police officer shot and wounded a colleague in the shoulder inside the department’s parking garage last September during an incident the police chief described as “unsafe, out-of-policy horseplay.”

Police Chief Gene Harris, however, kept the shooting video under wraps for nearly 10 months by invoking an exception to state law requiring police shootings be released, citing an investigation.

Pasadena police released a police cruiser dashcam video Wednesday. The Sept. 7, 2025, video captures the car pulling into the parking garage behind two uniformed officers standing at the rear of a police SUV with its back open around 6:18 p.m. It does not have any sound.

As the cruiser approaches the officers, the video shows the officer on the right side of the back of the SUV draw his handgun and point it directly at the approaching police cruiser in an action the police chief said was “inappropriate.” After a few seconds, the officer then reholsters the weapon as he and his colleague smile.

The video does not show what happens next inside the vehicle. Police Chief Harris said the officer seated in the patrol car driver’s seat drew his department-issued handgun and “pointed it toward the other officer, during this interaction, the driving officer’s firearm discharged.”

Harris said the round smashed through the cruiser’s windshield and hit one of the officers in the garage at 240 Ramona St. The video shows that about four seconds after the officer reholstered his gun, the dashcam suddenly jolts, there’s a cloud of dust coming from the direction of the car and the officer who was holding a gun grabs his left shoulder and winces.

The officer then moves to the side of the SUV as other officers in the parking structure rush to him, help him to the ground and treat his wound.

Harris said the officer sustained serious injuries and has since recovered.

Under California law, police agencies are generally required to release to the public audio and video recordings of police shootings and other critical incidents involving great bodily injury within 45 days of the incident.

However, in a video published on the city’s website, Harris said he used his power to exercise a clause in the law that allows for the release of footage to be delayed.

“The delay was necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation and allow investigators to complete essential investigative steps,” he said.

Harris identified the shooting officer as Roy Alatorre and said the officer “has separated from the city.” He added that the Los Angeles County District Attorney has received a criminal investigation for review from his department and Police Officers Standards and Training for the state have been informed. Alatorre did not immediately return a request for comment.

Harris said the video was not initially released because of the need for extensive interviews and investigation.

On Thursday, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said of the video, “This type of unprofessional behavior is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. The police chief assures me the incident has been thoroughly investigated and appropriated discipline taken and I support the chief’s decisions.”

Harris called the conduct “regretful” and not up to the department’s expectations.

In 2024, Alatorre earned nearly $181,000 in pay and overtime plus benefits and pension earnings that cost the city a total of $271,000, according to Transparent California, a public records database.