Police Welfare Check Takes an Unexpected and Dangerous Turn

A call for help can begin with very little information. Officers may be sent to check on someone's well-being after a friend or relative becomes concerned, with the initial goal simply being to make contact and determine whether the person is safe.

That was the situation in SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA, on May 7, 2026. What initially appeared to be a welfare check eventually brought officers face-to-face with an armed man, turning a calm conversation into a rapidly developing police encounter.

 

 

 

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A CONCERNED CALL BRINGS POLICE TO THE HOME

Just after 8 p.m., San Leandro Police received a non-emergency call from someone outside California who was worried about his friend, 39-year-old David McAlpin. The caller said he had been unable to reach McAlpin by phone.

Officers went to McAlpin's residence on Santiago Road to check on him. They spoke with members of his family, who said they were unaware of the concerns reported by the caller and did not know where McAlpin was.

The family eventually made contact with him but could not convince him to return home.

OFFICER MAKES CONTACT BY PHONE

Rather than immediately forcing an encounter, Officer Qiu was able to speak with McAlpin by telephone.

After a lengthy conversation, Qiu convinced McAlpin to provide his location. Officers arranged to meet him at the San Leandro Marina.

There was already an important piece of information officers had to consider: authorities had received information that McAlpin owned a firearm. McAlpin denied that he was armed when officers spoke with him.

 

 

 

THE ENCOUNTER SUDDENLY CHANGES

At the marina, Officer Qiu continued speaking with McAlpin for approximately ten minutes.

The interaction remained focused on communication until Qiu began opening the driver's door. At that moment, McAlpin reached toward an object.

Officer Caleb Schwitters, positioned near the windshield, immediately ordered him to stop reaching.

According to the account released with the body-camera footage, McAlpin then produced a FIREARM. Officers Schwitters, Navarro and Martinez fired their service weapons.

The body cameras captured the officers' perspectives, although none of the three cameras clearly showed McAlpin as he produced the firearm.

OFFICERS FACE AN ARMED SUSPECT

The situation did not end immediately after the officers fired.

Approximately 50 seconds later, another gunshot was heard. Investigators later determined that this shot came from McAlpin.

Officers continued treating the vehicle and surrounding area as a potential threat because McAlpin remained armed and did not respond to commands. They were unable to safely approach until additional resources arrived.

 

 

 

 

THE WELFARE CHECK ENDS TRAGICALLY

Emergency medical personnel eventually reached McAlpin and treated him at the scene. He was pronounced dead.

Investigators recovered a firearm from the vehicle. The incident was subsequently investigated using multiple sources of video, including body-worn camera recordings from the officers involved.

The case shows how unpredictable a WELFARE CHECK can become. Officers initially responded because someone was concerned about a person's well-being. After establishing communication and arranging an in-person meeting, the encounter unexpectedly developed into an armed confrontation.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The incident moved through several distinct stages: A CONCERNED CALL → PHONE CONTACT → AN IN-PERSON WELFARE CHECK → A SUDDEN FIREARM ENCOUNTER.

The available footage provides multiple perspectives of the encounter, while investigators' findings established that McAlpin fired a shot after officers had already discharged their weapons.

Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBWc45RTJg4