District Attorney releases additional details and dashcam video of CHP fatal shooting incident.

When Officer Felix Prieto pulled over on Highway 101 northbound at Ralph Lane in Prunedale at 7:07pm on Saturday, March 15, he was the first responder to the scene. 

His role included checking for injuries and roadway safety, conducting an assessment of the scene. It quickly escalated to Prieto firing his gun and killing 42-year-old James Frederick Combs of Salinas. 

Newly released details and dashcam video footage from the Monterey County District Attorney's Office reveals more information about the roughly one-minute encounter between the two men before Prieto fired. 

He is first seen approaching the vehicle—the only one involved—on the shoulder on the inside of a highway guardrail. "Hey man you OK?" Prieto says as he approaches the car. Combs is seen walking around the car toward Prieto, who quickly changes tone. 

"Hey, wait a minute, put that knife away. Put that fucking knife away," he shouts. He continues issuing similar commands, his tone intensifying but still steady over seven repetitions. Prieto walks backwards along the 101 shoulder toward his vehicle, continuing to instruct Combs: "Put that fucking knife away."  

Combs, who was holding a knife with a 4-inch blade, is seen continuing to approach, even as Prieto raises his gun. 

After they move out of view of the dashcam video (which can be viewed below), Prieto fires. 

Assistant District Attorney Lana Nassoura says her office is still awaiting results of an autopsy and coroner's report on Combs. The DA is responsible for investigating the shooting, not the collision itself, which would be the domain of CHP.

Court records show Combs committed at least five alleged traffic violations since 2005 in Monterey County.