The Christian family band that brawled with police in an Arizona Walmart parking lot were not slowed down by repeated hits from Tasers, pepper spray and batons, newly released dashcam video shows.
The fighting stopped only after a 21-year-old member of the Gaver family was fatally shot, his brother was struck in the stomach and a cop took a bullet to the leg.
The melee broke out March 21 after eight officers responded to a report that a member of the Gaver family — which had been living out of their car in the parking lot — had pushed a Walmart employee in a store bathroom, police said.
When police tried to separate the family band for questioning, they attacked, Cottonwood Police Chief Jody Fanning said Friday.
Punches flew as officers and Gavers got knocked to the ground. One officer was put into a headlock.
The Gavers knew hitting police in the torso would not be effective because of their protective gear, Fanning said.
“Their main mode of fight is to grab the officers’ faces, eyes, ears and mouth and try and pull as hard as they can,” Fanning said, according to AZFamily.
Throughout the fight, there were screams of, “Get down!” and “Get off me!”
Cops tried to subdue six Gavers with Tasers and pepper spray. But the family rolled on the ground to break Taser strings, wiped pepper spray away and got right back up, Fanning said.
“I’ve personally never seen that tactic applied, Fanning said, according to CNN. “Somebody has taught them that.”
“Nothing that they do, no punches, no kicks, no strikes with the (batons) seem to deter them.”
A Walmart employee jumped into the brawl to try to help police, and his efforts were appreciated, Fanning said.
At one point, Enoch Gaver got on top of Sgt. Jeremy Daniels on the ground and struggled for his gun, Fanning said.
Officer Rick Hicks tried to get Enoch Gaver off of Daniels by kicking him in the head, but he continued to reach for the gun, Fanning said.
The gun went off, shooting Daniels in the leg.
Hicks shot David Gaver, 28, in the stomach before fatally shooting Enoch Gaver, Fanning said.
“I believe it was justified,” Fanning said of the shooting, according to NBC News. “(Enoch Gaver) still had control of Sgt. Daniels’ weapon. He was on top of Sgt. Daniels and Sgt. Daniels had been shot.”
The officers did not “administer any kind of street justice,” he said.
The Gavers eventually surrendered, with one man yelling, “You’re being a Nazi!”
Peter Gaver, 55, Ruth Gaver, 52, and their sons Jeremiah, 29, and David were arrested after the fight. Their 15-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter were placed in a juvenile facility.
Daniels is recovering at home.
The Gavers, from Boise, Idaho, formed the band called Matthew 24 Now, which refers to the second coming of Christ. They performed in front of grocery stores.
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