Bodycam video released in deadly Walnut Creek police shooting of schizophrenic man with pellet gun

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- Police have released body-worn camera footage showing a deadly confrontation between Walnut Creek officers and a man with schizophrenia who appeared to be armed.

The incident happened in the early morning hours of Feb. 26.

In the video, you can hear officers order 46-year-old Joaquin Anthony Pereyra to surrender and drop what appeared to be a gun.

"Hey, show me your hands. Get on the ground now. I'm not messing with you, man. Get on the ground," an officer can be heard saying.

Police say he refused those orders, forcing them to open fire, killing Pereya.

MORE: Man with schizophrenia killed by Walnut Creek police was failed by many, experts say

The weapon turned out to be a pellet gun.

"I couldn't tell whether it was a real gun, though. It's on his right. Don't reach for that gun," the officer says in the video.

Police say both officers have returned to duty after an administrative leave.

Pereyra's mother told Eyewitness News her son had suffered from schizophrenia for years and had stopped taking his medicine last year.

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She said she believes her son was on his way to her house as he often would when he was off of his medication.

"I'm having a heavy heart because I have spent so many years advocating to prevent something like this, and it happens to my own son," she said.