Man fatally shot by San Diego deputy during Pow Wow near Imperial Beach Pier

An investigation was underway after a San Diego Sheriff’s deputy fired multiple shots Sunday, killing a man near a Native American Christmas event at the Imperial Beach Pier.

The shooting happened in front of the Imperial Beach Pier sign during the Christmas by the Sea Pow Wow, just after 1:30 p.m. Sunday, according to San Diego police, which is investigating the incident via a countywide memorandum of understanding that prevents departments from investigating uses of force involving their own law enforcement personnel.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic.

“And everyone’s like, ‘Why did they shoot him? Why did they shoot him? Why you shoot him?’ This is a native event. We don’t do that here,” said Toni Battle, who witnessed the shooting.

San Diego police said sheriff’s deputies were on site working the event when a man on a bike approached two deputies and a sergeant and asked to speak with them.

“He made statements that were consistent with wanting to be shot,” Lt. Lou Maggie with the San Diego Police Department said.

Investigators said at one point during the conversation, the man pulled out a knife and began moving toward the deputies, who gave the man multiple commands to drop the weapon.

When the man failed to comply, one sheriff’s deputy fired at him several times and struck the man, San Diego Police said.

“They rendered aid here at the scene until medics arrived. That subject was transported to the hospital but unfortunately did not survive the injuries,” Lt. Lou Maggie said.

Police are not releasing the name of the man shot, but investigators believe he may have been homeless.

“The guy drove past us on his bike and we heard him go, ‘Ah, ah.’ And then we hear, ‘boom, boom, boom, boom,'” Battle said. “And they did it in front of everybody, especially the kids, and no one knows why they shot him.”

Investigators said a taser was found on scene, but whether it had a role in the incident will be part of the investigation.

San Diego Police detectives will be talking with the deputy involved. They also ask witnesses and anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.

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