No illegal drugs found in body of Johnnie Nakao

No illegal drugs found in body of man fatally shot by police

Johnnie Nakao, the troubled son of a Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy fatally shot by San Jose police in August after their Taser stun guns failed, had no trace of illegal drugs in his body, according to a medical examiner's report released Tuesday.

The report also showed that two of the prongs fired from the officers' Tasers penetrated Nakao's chest, through a fleece jacket and shirt, but it remained unclear why the 50,000 volts were ineffective. A third Taser-related wound was found on his right forearm.

Nakao, 21, whose relatives said he was harmless but haunted by a mental illness and drug addiction, apparently tried to steal a CD player from a Radio Shack on Aug. 12. A confrontation with employees became violent.

San Jose police officers Gary Jungling and Kevin McMillion were called and tried to use their Tasers to subdue Nakao, who had a knife. He ran out the back door, and they chased him.

Police said Nakao then turned around and came at them with a knife. A second Taser shot failed to stop him, and officers opened fire with their handguns. Nakao was struck once in the upper chest and twice in the abdomen, according to the medical examiner's report. A fourth shot missed.

Sharon Jensen, who had helped raise Nakao after his mother divorced from his father, John Nakao, has said she believed her grandson may have been high on drugs when he was killed. Toxicology results showed only caffeine, nicotine and traces of alcohol.

-- Crystal Carreon