A man was killed by San Diego police officers in a Nestor neighborhood and residents are asking if officers used excessive force. NBC 7’s Megan Tevrizian is at the scene with more.
A man wielding a knife was shot and killed by San Diego police officers late Sunday, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said.
The shooting happened around 11 p.m. at the intersection of Hollister Street and Tocayo Avenue.
SDPD said when they arrived at the scene shortly after 10:50 p.m., U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents were already there. They had been flagged down by a citizen who was concerned about a man walking along the street with a knife, SDPD Lt. Anthony Dupree said.
A witness told NBC 7 he saw the man walking in the street kicking cars.
The man didn't respond to officers demands to drop the weapon and both SDPD and CBP officers drew their weapons, Dupree said.
SDPD deployed less-lethal fire, bean bags and a taser but the methods "were not effective," Dupree said.
"He was running back into the intersection and he was frantically walking around in circles with his hands chest high, not knowing what to do, not sure what commands to follow," one witness recalled. "He obviously wasn't going to drop the knife."
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The man began to move towards officers with the knife pointed at them.
"Fearing for their safety, three officers fired their weapons at the male striking him numerous times," Dupree said.
It was unclear how many rounds were fired, but multiple witnesses estimated around 15.
"Just a boatload of bullets were unleashed on the guy," a witness said.
Neighbors near the crime scene told NBC 7 they were bothered with the amount of bullets police fired.
"There's a lot of kids right here, you know?" neighbor Jorge Maeleg said. "I think it was excessive."
SDPD Capt. Michael Hastings said there was a span of about two minutes from the moment officers arrived to the moment shots were fired.
The man was declared dead at the scene. He is believed to be 42 years old but has not been publicly identified until family can be notified, SDPD said.
SDPD said no officers were injured.
It is believed only officers with the SDPD fired rounds. The three officers involved have not been named but have been with the department 6 years, two years and one year, SDPD said.
Two homicide teams are investigating the shooting. The intersection of Hollister Street and Tocayo Avenue was closed off Monday morning as detectives investigated.
No other information was available.
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