MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. — A civil lawsuit stemming from the March 4, 2025 fatal police shooting of Jesus Corona Uribe has been settled for a reported $5 million, bringing a resolution to the civil proceedings. The settlement agreement was dated July 7, 2026, and the case was dismissed with prejudice on September 1, 2026, following judicial review, as reported by The Sheet.
Despite the civil resolution, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) continues its independent investigation into the shooting. As of September 17, 2026, the DOJ publicly lists the case, BI-LA2025-00051, as “Under Investigation.” The DOJ's Assembly Bill 1506 investigations focus on fatal police shootings of unarmed civilians to determine potential criminal liability. Mammoth Lakes officers Brian Madera and Dennis Saulque are named in the DOJ's entry for the case.
The settlement agreement included no admission of wrongdoing, with the Town of Mammoth Lakes and the named officers denying liability in the matter. The lawsuit, identified on a Town Council agenda as Successors to Jesus Uribe Corona v. Mammoth Lakes Police Department, case No. 25UCM62, named the Town, its police department, and four officers as defendants.
Town Manager Rob Patterson stated that the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority would cover the settlement. The Town of Mammoth Lakes is projected to face estimated premium increases of $140,000 annually for five years, beginning in fiscal year 2027–28. This would total approximately $700,000 in additional premiums, rather than repayment of the entire settlement amount.
According to the Mammoth Lakes Police Department’s initial release, officers responded around 11:40 a.m. to reports of a man throwing rocks at passing vehicles near the Mammoth Lakes Branch Library. Officers arrived approximately one minute later. Police stated that Uribe held multiple rocks, did not comply with commands, and ran toward officers. He was shot and later pronounced dead at Mammoth Hospital.
The police department released a critical-incident video related to the shooting on March 27, 2025. In a statement issued that day, attorneys for Uribe’s family asserted that the two officers who fired were not wearing body cameras. The family’s attorneys have consistently disputed the justification for deadly force, stating that Uribe was experiencing an apparent mental-health crisis, had not thrown a rock at officers, and was at a safe distance. These remain the family’s assertions and are not findings established by the civil settlement.
The DOJ announced its independent investigation on the day of the shooting. Its announcement indicated that the completed investigation would be forwarded to its Special Prosecutions Section for independent review. The September 17 public listing does not specify whether this handoff has occurred or provide a completion date. The DOJ states that if criminal charges are not deemed appropriate, it will issue a public report detailing the facts, legal analysis, reasons for its decision, and any applicable policy recommendations.
Regarding the officers involved, The Sheet’s employment reporting indicated that both shooting officers returned from administrative leave. Officer Saulque later joined the Bishop Police Department, a move reported in February 2026. Officer Madera remained employed by Mammoth Lakes as of the September settlement report. The civil resolution addresses the lawsuit, while the DOJ’s ongoing review seeks to determine if criminal charges are warranted, underscoring that these processes answer different legal questions.
