A deputy-involved shooting in National City has left one man dead after an incident that began as a routine traffic stop and quickly escalated. According to Hoodline, the confrontation unfolded on the 200 block of Mile of Cars Way around 1:22 p.m. when a male passenger fled from a white Acura during the stop. As the situation progressed, a firearm was discharged, leading to the man's death and minor injuries for a San Diego Sheriff's detective.
The two individuals remaining in the vehicle after the passenger fled—a 29-year-old white male, Dominic Dimaio, and a 36-year-old white female, Whitney Cowan—were detained and arrested on narcotics charges and possession of body armor as felons. The officer involved, Detective Douglas Akers, a veteran of the San Diego Sheriff's Office for approximately 35 years, suffered injuries from broken glass during the altercation. A citizen in the area flagged down a detective who was in the area searching for the man who fled, reported the official San Diego website.
The suspect, later identified by the San Diego government website as 46-year-old Gene Stewart of Lakeside, reportedly shot at least one round at Detective Akers, who was giving him commands from outside a tow truck the suspect had entered. This led to Akers returning fire, resulting in Stewart's fatal injury. The San Diego Police Homicide Unit is now conducting a thorough investigation into the sequence of events, including interviews and evidence collection.
Upon completion of the investigation, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office will review the case to determine any potential criminal liability for the detective. The Sheriff's Office will also investigate the detective’s firearm discharge administratively. The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office monitor this process for comprehensive oversight. According to Hoodline, the detective was treated at a local hospital and has since been released.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Contacts have been provided for the San Diego Police Homicide Unit and Crime Stoppers, where tips can be submitted anonymously.
