Unarmed grandfather, 73, with dementia is shot 'NINE TIMES' and killed by California cops as he wanders around his block at 12.30am
- Police arrived to a home in Bakersfield, California responding to a call about a man with a gun
- A neighbor pointed to Francisco Serna who was standing in a neighbor's driveway, prompting an officer to fire several rounds
- No gun was turned up in a search
- 'My father was murdered,' said his son, Rogelio Serna. 'He did not own a gun. He was never armed.'
An unarmed grandfather in the early stages of dementia was shot dead by police while he walked around the block near his home.
Francisco Serna, 73, was hit nine times by gunfire from police in Bakersfield, California, answering a call about a man with a gun - but no weapon was recovered from the scene.
He was stood in his neighbor's driveway at around 12.30am Monday morning when he was gunned down. His family said he took the late-night walks to tire himself out.
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Grandfather and father of five Francisco Serna (left) lived with his wife on Silver Birch Avenue in Bakersfield, he was shot by a cop in the early morning hours of his block
Serna did not own a gun and was not armed, says his son, Rogelio (right) but had lately been suffering from delusions and other symptoms of dementia
Serna had five children and was a 'retired grandpa, just living life' said his son
Police had arrived at the 7900 block of Silver Birch Avenue and, when a witness pointed to Serna, one officer fired several rounds and killed him, Bakersfield police spokesman Sgt. Gary Carruesco tells the Los Angeles Times.
No gun was turned up in a search of the scene or Serna's house or car, Carruesco said.
Serna's son said his father had worked at a cotton gin in California's Central Valley until retiring about a dozen years ago.
He lived on the block where he was killed.
Serna had five children and lived with his wife and one of his daughters.
Rogelio, above, who goes by Roy, posted a video on Facebook saying police murdered his father, and pointed to the area where it happened
'My dad did not own a gun. He was a 73-year-old retired grandpa, just living life,' Rogelio Serna told the Times. 'He should have been surrounded by family at old age, not surrounded by bullets.'
Rogelio Serna said his father had been suffering from delusions and other early signs of dementia since last year but that had appeared to be getting worse in the past month.
Police had visited the house twice before because his confused father activated a medical alarm, Rogelio Serna said.
Police said they did not turn up a gun either in Serna's home or his car or the area where he was shot
Serna, who goes by Roy, said on a video he posted to his Facebook page that the police shot him nine times.
'My dad was not armed,' he said. 'There's false reports about my father having weapons - he was never armed.'
'My father was MURDERED by BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT' he wrote.
He said there would be a candlelight vigil 6pm on Tuesday.
The coroner said an autopsy would be performed on Serna. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave.
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