SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As Santa Clara police wrapped up an investigation into an early morning officer-involved shooting, friends and family of the victim stood outside his mother's home today to pay their respects.
Eric Kleemeyer, 22, has been identified as the driver who allegedly rammed a police vehicle with his car and was killed after three officers opened fire on him, according to long-time neighbor Bambi Malcria.
Kleemeyer, who worked as a manager at the Costco on Coleman Avenue, was described as a hard-working guy who cared for his friends.
Malcria said the former Santa Clara High School student was visiting a friend who was sick with leukemia Monday night just prior to the shooting.
According to Lt. Jim Buchanan, the incident unfolded as officers were at the scene of an unrelated fatal accident on El Camino Real and Bowers Avenue.
Just after midnight officers spotted a 1960s model Dodge Dart driving in a "reckless fashion," Buchanan said.
Officers in a marked Chevrolet Tahoe and another unmarked sport utility vehicle attempted to pull the Dart over at 12:12 a.m. but the driver refused to yield.
The driver continued for approximately two miles into a residential area at the intersection of Serra and Clara Vista avenues, according to Buchanan.
At that point the driver rammed the marked police vehicle in the passenger side before three officers fired their weapons, killing Kleemeyer just outside his mother's house.
Malcria said that Kleemeyer was driving on a suspended license due to previous traffic citations including one for driving under the influence.
He was apparently driving his car in circles when officers spotted him, a maneuver commonly referred to as "spinning doughnuts."
Scared and confused at the sight of police in his rear view mirror, Kleemeyer headed towards his mother's home and even called her on his cellular phone to inform her of what was happening.
Minutes later, her son was dead, according to Malcria.
Gabby Olive, a friend of Kleemeyer's, showed up to drop off flowers for the victim's family.
Kleemeyer had two younger brothers, both of whom are in the military.
He had previously lived with his mother on their Clara Vista Avenue home but had recently gotten an apartment on Monroe Street.
"It's so shocking," Olive said. "He was just getting his life started."
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Video On Demand: Family Questions Police Story In Santa Clara Shooting
