A conflict between two dog owners on Fiesta Island led to a deadly confrontation Wednesday morning, according to San Diego law enforcement officials. An off-duty police officer with the San Diego Community College District was stabbed and subsequently shot and killed the individual he claims attacked him. As told by CBS 8, the incident drew a significant response from local authorities, including "dozens of San Diego Police cars, park rangers and investigators" who quickly set up a perimeter for the ongoing investigation, obstructing the entrance to the popular area.
The call came in around 10 a.m., and when police responded, they discovered one man suffering from multiple stab wounds and another fatally shot. "Shortly after his arrival, he was confronted by the other individual who ended up stabbing him multiple times in the upper torso," Lt. Jud Campbell shared with media, including NBC San Diego. Acting in what is described as self-defense, "the officer got a firearm and ended up shooting a male," who died at the scene. The officer was transported to the hospital and is expected to survive his injuries. At this time, the details that triggered the altercation remain unclear.
Both the officer and the deceased were accompanied by dogs at the time of the incident, both of which have been taken into custody by the San Diego Humane Society. A spokesperson for the organization, Nina Thompson, confirmed the Humane Society's involvement but offered no additional comment on the ongoing investigation or about the animals' conditions.
The San Diego Community College District expressed deep concern for the off-duty officer, stating, "Our focus is on the condition of our officer who sustained serious injuries during an assault this morning at Fiesta Island while he was off duty." According to the District, "Our thoughts are with him and his family at this time." They also announced cooperation with the San Diego Police Department's investigation into the violent episode. As police continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to this lethal encounter, access to Fiesta Island will remain restricted, with further developments anticipated as the investigation unfolds.
