BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
A man who shot a Mountain View police officer at point blank range was sentenced today to 50-years-to-life in prison, prosecutors said.
Jeffrey Choy, 43, of Union City, was convicted of attempted murder.
The case looked back to just after midnight on July 16, 2022, when Detective Raymond Clutter pulled Choy over for running two stop signs on Villa Street.
A 15-second video from Clutter’s body-worn camera showed Clutter approach Choy’s Ford Explorer on the driver’s side and say, “Hey man, how’s it going?”
“All good,” Choy responded, before leaning forward, shooting Clutter and speeding off.
The bullet went through Clutter’s forearm and into a bulletproof vest near his shoulder, leaving a bruise from the impact but stopping short of his skin.
“There was blood all over my forearm and hand,” Clutter testified at the seven-day trial in April.
Clutter said he couldn’t immediately call for backup because another officer was using the frequency to check a license plate.
After several seconds that felt like an eternity, the frequency was finally clear: “Code 3 fellas, I’ve been hit,” Clutter said.
Choy lost control on a turn and crashed into a parked car near Higdon Avenue. He hid in a laundry room until someone picked him up around 7 a.m., Deputy District Attorney Marisa McKeown told the jury during opening arguments.
Federal agents arrested Choy the next day outside Black Bear Diner in Fremont, where he was having brunch with his family.
Choy’s mother attended the first day of the trial. So did five employees from the Mountain View Police Department, including Chief Mike Canfield.
The shooting remains very impactful for the department, Canfield said after Choy was convicted.
“Our thoughts remain with our officer … Incidents like this underscore the risks our officers face in their service to our city and community,” Canfield said in an email.
Clutter has recovered from his injuries.
“A police officer is alive and back on the beat only due to his training, reflexes and a few lucky inches. Today’s sentencing was justice — and a sobering reminder of the brave sacrifices that police officers make every shift to protect us all,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement.
Choy’s attorney Edward Sousa argued that Choy didn’t intend to kill Clutter, which is necessary to find someone guilty of attempted murder.
Choy thought people were following him, was blackout drunk and had just injected meth, Sousa said.
Choy’s sister Elizabeth Barrow testified that Choy was raped by their father at 2 years old.
“It was very violent,” Barrow told the jury.
Choy started drinking as a teenager, struggled with depression and attempted suicide several times, Barrow said.
“Because (the sexual abuse) happened so young, it’s hard to know what he was like before that,” she said.
Going back to 2008, Choy has pleaded guilty to breaking into a home, leading an officer on a car chase, attempting a robbery and violating his probation three times.
In addition to attempted murder, the jury convicted Choy of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition during a Cupertino traffic stop in April 2022.
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