In a string of violence that rocked San Diego, two officer-involved shootings occurred within hours, as confirmed by the San Diego Police Department. Authorities have reported that the first altercation broke out near the 47th Street Trolley Station around 11 p.m. Sunday, and the second incident unfolded on Monday morning near Friars Road.
In the most harrowing encounter, a suspect involved in a domestic dispute was shot by an SDPD officer after threatening his ex-girlfriend with a gun and then fleeing with their infant to a bush near the Orange Line's 47th Street Trolley Station. The baby, fortunately, was unharmed during the unsettling incident. The NBC San Diego report detailed that the man was later taken into custody and transported to a hospital post-surgery and is expected to face charges.
Adding to the gravity of the event, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's Lt. Mike Krugh was quoted by NBC San Diego saying, "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 a least once." The suspect's identity has yet to be publicly released, but the concerns center on why lethal force was employed close to an innocent child.
According to an announcement from the San Diego Police Department's X page, their Internal Affairs Unit will review the shooting for any policy violations. At the same time, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department leads the third-party investigation into both shootings. It is standard protocol for the officer responsible for the gunfire, a two-year veteran of the force, to be placed on administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.
SDPD aims to release body-worn camera videos to the community within 7-10 business days.
— San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) May 20, 2024
The videos are posted to SDPD’s Critical Incident Videos webpage: https://t.co/mtlpM6pdsv
San Diego residents are awaiting the release of the body-worn camera footage, which the police department has promised to make accessible on their Critical Incident Videos webpage within 7-10 business days. The District Attorney's Office, along with oversight from the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office, will review the Sheriff’s Department's findings to construct a comprehensive understanding of the events that triggered this use of force.
