A possible burglary suspect was shot to death by police after an hours-long SWAT standoff in Point Loma Tuesday night, August 25th. The unidentified male was shot after he emerged from the home with a gun in the 2700 block of Nipoma Street. No one else was injured.
Police responded around 4:40 pm for a welfare check at the house but the call was later upgraded to a report of a residential burglary in progress. Police contacted the homeowner when they arrived and were told that firearms were inside the residence and that no one had permission to be inside.
This info caused SDPD’s SWAT Team to respond. As officers tried to make contact with the person inside the house, a couple of gunshots were reportedly made, coming form inside the home.
Then around 9:30, nearly five hours after the incident began, a man holding a firearm reportedly exited through the front door. This caused police to fire at least one weapon and the suspect was hit, and later pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The sheriff’s Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation under countywide protocol. Detectives collected evidence from the scene, interviewed witnesses and are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Once the Homicide Unit completes its investigation, the case will be submitted to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether the involved officers face any criminal liability. SDPD will also conduct an administrative review of the officers’ use of their firearms.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
