The San Diego Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that killed a 32-year-old man in Chula Vista.
The Chula Vista Police Department responded to a call of a female screaming for help and a male hitting a female on Sunday at approximately 8:21 p.m. in the 1100 block of Broadway. Callers identified the suspect as a male wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, walking with a wheelchair, and hitting cars with his hands and parts of the wheelchair.
Another call noted the man standing next to a black truck in the shopping center parkinglot. A canine officer arrived at the scene and located the subject of the radio call standing next to a parked pickup truck in the parking lot. The officer noticed the suspect was holding a knife once he began to make contact.
According to SDPD Lt. Jude Campbell, the officer gave commands to drop the knife, but the man climbed into the bed of the pickup truck, crouched down, and began hitting the back windows of the truck.
Officers later determined that the pickup truck didn't belong to the man.
The man jumped out of the pickup truck and began to approach the officer with a knife in his hand. The officer gave commands to stop, but the man continued to approach the officer, and at that point, the officer fired his service weapon, according to authorities.
The man was struck by multiple rounds. According to authorities, officers moved the knife away from the man and performed lifesaving efforts until paramedics arrived, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released the identity of the man but described him as a 32-year-old white man and a resident of Chula Vista.
The San Diego Police Homicide Unit was called to the scene to conduct the officer-involved shooting investigation, per the Countywide Memorandum of Understanding.
“The investigation and review process for officer-involved shootings are extremely thorough. When the Homicide Unit completes its investigation, it will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the officers bear any criminal liability for their actions,” Campbell wrote in a statement.
The name of the police officer has not been released, but authorities said he has been employed by the Chula Vista Police Department for approximately five years and is currently assigned as a canine handler. No officers were injured during the incident.
According to authorities, the Chula Vista Police Department will conduct an administrative investigation into the officers’ discharge of their firearms.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
