On Saturday morning, a confrontation in Chula Vista ended as an officer-involved shooting when police responded to a report of a family disturbance. The Chula Vista Police Officers had arrived at a residence on Country Vistas Lane following a call about a family argument involving a firearm. What ensued was a tense altercation leading to three officers discharging their weapons at a 56-year-old Hispanic male, who was later pronounced deceased at the hospital after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
According to a press release from the San Diego Police Department, the incident began around 5:41 AM, with family members found hiding outside the home upon police arrival. The suspect, an older man, still inside, reportedly had access to multiple firearms. An increase in police presence, including the deployment of a drone and an armored vehicle, was requested. The situation escalated when the man exited the house with his hands in his pockets and subsequently failed to obey the police commands to raise his hands, resulting in officers using a less-lethal beanbag round.
The press release further detailed that after being struck by the beanbag round, the suspect fell but then picked up the gun and pointed it at the officers before they fired their weapons. Two handguns were recovered at the scene: one beside the suspect and another in his waistband. Following the shooting, the officers on scene rendered aid until paramedics transported the suspect to the hospital.
All officers, having served on the force for 11, 7, and 5 years respectively, had their body-worn cameras activated during the incident. San Diego Police Homicide Detectives are now investigating the shooting, and the case will eventually be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to assess any potential criminal liability on the part of the officers involved. An administrative investigation by the Chula Vista Police Department into the discharge of firearms is also underway, with the FBI and the United States Attorney's Office monitoring the proceedings.
