A San Diego police officer opened fire in a home in the North Park area Monday morning, killing a 56-year-old man who refused to drop a kitchen knife, the San Diego Union Tribune reported April 26th. The man, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital after the incident, where he died a short time later.
According to reports by San Diego 6 News, around 10:42 a.m., police received a call from family members about a man who was reportedly having mental health problems. When officers arrived at the home in the 3400 block of Alabama Street shortly before 11 a.m., the man and his mother, who he apparently lived with, were standing outside the home in the front yard. When he saw officers, he ran inside. Two officers followed him inside, and found the man holding a knife. One of the officers reportedly told the man to drop the knife, and when he refused and advanced on the officer, opened fire.
San Diego County Officer-Involved Shooting Deaths
This incident is the second officer-involved shooting in less than 30 days in San Diego County. On Tuesday, March 30, 2010, Escondido police responding to a domestic disturbance call shot and killed a 25-year-old man in Escondido. Incidents such as the one that occurred April 26th and the one in Escondido in March are tragedies that raise questions about what constitutes the use of deadly weapons by law enforcement. Could this situation have been handled in a way that didn't end in a man's death? Was the officer involved properly trained in dealing with people with mental health issues? Did the situation really call for the use of lethal force?
Police Involved Shootings & Wrongful Death Liability
Every year, municipalities around the country pay out millions to families of victims killed by police in wrongful death settlements and verdicts. In March 2009, the city of San Diego reached a $325,000 settlement with the family of a 25-year-old man who pulled a toy gun on officers at a traffic stop. In March 2008, an $800,000 settlement was reached with the city of Riverside after an unarmed 28-year-old was shot and killed by Riverside Police officers. While this incident is still under investigation, the family of the man killed would be well-advised to speak to a San Diego wrongful death attorney as soon as possible, who can help them fully understand and protect their legal rights following this preventable tragedy.
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