San Diego police are investigating after a San Diego County sheriff's deputy shot a man near the Imperial Beach Pier on Sunday afternoon during the city's Pow Wow by the Sea festival. This event had drawn families and children to the waterfront. The man was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest and later died, according to witnesses and first responders at the scene.
The San Diego Police Department says it is leading the investigation under a countywide memorandum that calls for an outside agency to review the use of force by officers. The Sheriff's Department posted on X, urging people to avoid Evergreen Avenue and Seacoast Drive while deputies worked the scene, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Officials say deputies were staffing the Pow Wow when the incident occurred, and detectives are expected to interview the deputy involved as the investigation proceeds.
Eyewitnesses at the Pow Wow
People attending the festival described a chaotic few moments after several gunshots rang out. One worker said deputies immediately performed CPR until medics arrived, and multiple attendees said the man who was shot was known in the neighborhood, with many residents saying he was unhoused, 10News reports. Photos and cellphone videos spread quickly on social media as law enforcement cleared the area near the pier.
How Police Say the Encounter Unfolded
According to San Diego police, the man approached deputies, pulled out a knife, and began advancing toward them. Lt. Lou Maggi said the man made statements that were "consistent with wanting to be shot." Officers say deputies ordered him to drop the knife and, when he did not, one deputy fired multiple rounds, hitting him. A taser was recovered at the scene, and deputies provided emergency aid before the man was transported to the hospital, NBC 7 San Diego reports.
Investigation and Next Steps
Under a 2022 countywide Memorandum of Agreement, the San Diego Police Department serves as the lead agency for independent investigations of officer-involved shootings. It is responsible for collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses, as noted by the Times of San Diego. Authorities are asking anyone with video or other information about the incident to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers as the review continues.
The Sheriff's Office has stated that there is no immediate danger to the wider community while the scene is being processed, and event organizers reported that Pow Wow activities were disrupted as officials worked, according to 10News. This is a developing story and will be updated as officials release additional information.
