Do you um do you feel like hurting yourself? Do you want to talk, you know, privately away from the your neighbor here? >> I don't know. >> Well, it's kind of a yes or no. >> What can happen? >> God, you okay with me right now? >> Sure. Give him everything for this day. Thank you for bringing selen, Lord. Let Jesus guide his saints today. Help him know that everybody here is coming to help him. That if he's in trouble, >> Lord put his mind at ease and help you. and help him see the good in the world. >> Ma'am, can I talk to you? >> Drop it. DROP IT. DROP IT. >> AN 18year-old asked for police assistance. Just minutes later, he would be dead. On the morning of February 4th, 2026 in 410 block of Deer Valley Drive in Maran, Iowa, officers responded to what appeared to be a routine request from a young man, 18-year-old Saber Bernard, who simply wanted to speak with police. But body cam footage reveals a rapidly escalating encounter that ended in a fatal officer involved shooting. Authorities say Saber Bernard suddenly produced a machete, ignored repeated commands to drop the weapon, and advanced toward officers after a taser deployment failed. Yet, the case has remained the subject of intense debate. Why did a teenager who initially requested police contact end up in a deadly confrontation? Were there signs of a mental health crisis? and why did the police block our and Bernard's family later push for the release of unedited body cam footage? In this video, we'll examine the body cam footage, official findings, and the questions that continue to surround one of Iowa's most controversial police encounters of the year. >> Marian police. >> Hi. Um, my name is I have a neighbor kid who's at my house saying that he needs somebody to talk to and it's not a 911 emergency or a suicide emergency, but he needs help from somebody. >> Okay. What's the address that you guys are at >> right now? We're at 401 Deer Valley Drive. >> How old do you think he is? >> Are you 17, 18? 18. >> Okay. Do you know what he wants to talk to them about or does he not want to share? >> He doesn't want to share, but he wanted me to help make the phone call for him. >> And he's you're okay just having him wait there with you at the 41 Deer Valley Drive? >> Yeah, I can I can be here for about 15 more minutes? >> Sure. And it's just a police officer he needs, not any like paramedics, nothing like that? >> Nope. He's He's not hurt and he says nobody's in immediate danger or anything. >> Okay. Could you just grab his first name for me and then I'll have an officer head that way? >> Yeah. My name Yeah. Your name? >> Yeah. You've grown up so much they didn't even recognize you. His name is Sabre. >> Okay. >> I haven't seen him for a couple of years. He's all grown up now. >> All right. I will have an officer head that way. It shouldn't be long just drive time. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> No problem. Thank you. fight. You want to come inside? And >> the neighbor called dispatch back, explaining that the conversation had taken a troubling turn. According to the call, Bernard was speaking about heaven and hell, children, and other intense religious topics that left the caller worried about his state of mind. Later, officers would describe the discussion as involving what they called afterlife topics. >> Willow Marian 911. >> Hi. Um, I called the non-emergency line a couple minutes ago. I have an 18-year-old neighbor at my house. Um, but he's talking like it's an emergency now. So, if if we could get some help quicker, that would be good. I'm at 41 Deer Valley Drive. >> Okay. Is he saying anything different or anything additional? >> Yeah. >> What's going on? I've got the officer route. I just if I can know anything further. There's there's been some discuss discussion of heaven and hell and um children and and just lots of things. >> Okay. Is he standing right next to you? That makes it difficult to answer my questions. Okay. >> Yep. >> Is he a danger to himself, do you think? >> I don't think so right now. >> Okay. The officer is on 35th Street, so I'll update him, but he's not terribly far away. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Bye. >> Mhm. As the conversation continued, the first responding officer's concern became increasingly apparent. At one point, he radioed dispatch and requested another car to respond to the scene. The request was brief, but it signaled that officers believed the situation might be escalating beyond a routine contact. What you're about to hear is the actual dispatch audio released by investigators, including the moment additional units were requested. 195. Can you copy of the subject at 41 Valley Drive? >> Good. >> Meeting with She said her 17 or 18year-old neighbor came over asking for her to call the police for him. It's unclear what he needs. He's not in any sort of distress. He just keeps asking for assistance getting in contact with the police officer. 10 with some other guy, not the RP. >> The juvenile is going to wait with at 41, which is the RP's address, not his address. He's not giving her any information and didn't want to talk to me on the phone. >> So, 195, the RP called back on 911 asking if you can respond emergent. She can't answer any of my questions because he's standing right there. Sounds like there's some discussion of the afterlife. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I asked if he was a danger to himself and she said no. But I see her pretty close to your 43. >> You start a second. Just getting on to the first >> 223. I can head that way. And now what you're about to see is the actual body cam footage of final moments exactly as they unfolded from the officer's perspective leading up to the deadly confrontation that would forever change the lives of everyone involved. >> 95. I know. I know all these neighbors have on their doorbells, so it's getting reported anyway. Does that make you feel better? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Good morning. >> Hi. What's going on? >> So, this is Sabre. He's my neighbor. >> Okay. >> He's 18. He lives in that pan house there with the birth or your grandma lives there. Is that right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> He came out this morning just saying that he needs a little help with something. He's talking about heaven and hell and some heavy existential stuff and he's told me don't go to school today. >> Okay. >> Um and says he doesn't he says he's not in danger. He says nobody he knows is in danger >> but he's talking about some big stuff and he needs a little bit of help or something. >> Want to talk? >> No. >> No. >> Yes you do. You told me you wanted to. You had me get somebody. >> We can't help it if we don't know what's going on, you know. >> Sabre, did you go to school? >> Not anymore. >> Okay. Where did you go? >> Kirkwood and Marian. >> The Marian branch of Kirkwood or Marian High School? You mean >> Marian High School? >> Okay. And how old are you? >> 18. >> 18. Okay. Do you um do you feel like hurting yourself? Do you want to talk, you know, privately away from the your neighbor here? >> I don't know. >> Well, it's kind of a yes or no. >> He can help you loads better than I can. Or he knows the people who can't help loads better than me. Do >> you believe in God? >> I do. Then why are you working for evil? >> What's that? >> Then why are you working for evil? >> I work for the police department. >> Yeah, that's evil. >> Okay, it's evil. >> Okay. Um, do you live here or? >> Yeah, >> like all the time or you just visiting? Okay. >> Do you want to go back to your house and talk? It's 5° out. No. >> No. Okay. Well, why'd you ask her to call me? >> Deeper reason. >> What's that reason? >> I can't tell you. >> Okay. >> Not at all. >> No. >> Do you want to tell them about Willow? >> It's his girlfriend. You >> know about Willow? >> Never heard of her. >> You ever heard of Adam and Eve? Yeah, >> I really don't want to do this. >> Do what, buddy? >> What can happen? >> God, >> you okay with me right now? >> Sure. >> Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this day. Thank you for bringing Ser. Help him be strong, Lord. Let Jesus guide his sins today. Help him know that everybody here is coming to help him and that if he's in trouble, Lord, put his mind at ease and help you >> and help him see the good in the world. In Jesus name we pray. May I have talk to you? >> DROP IT. DROP IT. DROP IT. DROP IT. DROP IT. YOU GOT A TASER. Get the taser. I got I got I got this. Drop it. Drop it. Drop it. Drop it. Drop it. Drop it. Drop it. Drop it. Drop it. Drop it. Tase him. Alex. >> Jesus. Lord is my savior. Nothing will stop. >> GET INSIDE. GET INSIDE. GET INSIDE. GET INSIDE. GET INSIDE. GET INSIDE. >> KILL ME RIGHT NOW. KILL ME. [screaming] >> Roll over. >> ROLL OVER. NO. SO GOD, do not touch me. Jesus Lord is my savior. >> 95 shots fired. Start ambulance. Roll him over. I shot him right in the chest, dude. Roll him over. Gosh darn it. Come on, buddy. Come on, buddy. Come on, buddy. Come on, buddy. Get him patted down. One, two. [laughter] One, two. One, two. One, two. 13 6 7 8 9 10 [laughter] 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20. You got yours? Yep. >> I got it. >> Sadly, despite the officer's first aid efforts that included CPR, the application of an automated external defibrillator, and the application of chest wound seal to the gunshot wound, Bernand died at the hospital. The Iowa Attorney General concluded that the officer's actions were legally justified under the circumstances, but for many observers, the official ruling has not ended the discussion. Supporters of the officers point to the body cam footage, the repeated commands, the failed taser deployment, and the split-second decision officers faced when confronted by a charging suspect armed with a machete. Others continue to ask whether more could have been done before the encounter reached that point, particularly given indications that Bernard may have been experiencing a mental health crisis. What remains undisputed is that a young man lost his life, officers were forced into a lifealtering situation, and a community was left searching for answers. After watching the footage for yourself, let us know your thoughts in the comments. Do you believe this tragedy could have been prevented? If you found this breakdown informative, be sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more body cam and police incident analysis.