The San Diego Police Department is in the hot seat following a pair of officer-involved shootings that unfolded mere hours from each other. According to a news release from the department, the first of these tense confrontations took place on the night of May 19, near the 47th Street Trolley Station, where a suspect accused of kidnapping was shot by an SDPD officer. The child, caught in the middle of the incident, was unharmed.
As reported by Hoodline, the situation escalated after the man reportedly threatened his ex-girlfriend with a firearm and fled with their 11-month-old child. The SDPD release detailed how the man holed up in a bush with his child when confronted by police, prompting at least one officer to fire a shot, hitting the suspect.
With only a year and a half of service on the force, the officer in question has been placed on administrative leave per department policy while an investigation is underway. The SDPD has promised transparency by committing to release body-worn camera footage on their website, with a link to the video already published, albeit with limited details provided at this time. Watchdogs and community members are angling for a full picture, with eyes fixed on the multilayered review process involving the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office.
Per the incident's official press release, the man was stabilized after surgery and is now facing charges, including kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon. "The man was found in a bush with the child. After being ordered to come out, at least one officer fired a round at the man, striking him at least once," stated Lt. Mike Krugh in an NBC San Diego report via Hoodline, widely echoing amid news outlets.
Scrutiny over the SDPD's use of force has intensified, especially given the involvement of an innocent child in one of the shootings. The community's reaction has been fueled by uncertainty and the demand for accountability, leading San Diego Police to hasten the dissemination of the incident's footage on platforms like YouTube, with a video already available for public viewing at this link. The District Attorney's Office is set to determine whether criminal charges against the officer are justified.
