More than a dozen law enforcement officers have been cleared of criminal liability by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in seven separate shootings.
The office released the case reviews Thursday. The D.A.’s office commonly issues the reviews in large batches months or even years after some of the events took place.
The incidents, three of which were fatal, occurred from October 2023 through November 2024 in La Jolla, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido and Spring Valley.
They involved San Diego County sheriff’s deputies, as well as police officers from San Diego and three other jurisdictions.
The deadly shootings reviewed by prosecutors include:
July 6, 2024 – death of Dejon Marques Heard, 24, in La Jolla. Police responded that morning to reports of a man blocking traffic with his car on La Jolla Boulevard, throwing items and yelling, all while armed with a knife.
When officers arrived, Heard was holding the knife and told the officers to “Pull ’em out,” the D.A.’s review states. When officers drew their firearms, he said, “Alright, let’s do it,” then ran towards San Diego police Officer Tarik Andrew.
The officers retreated and commanded him to drop the knife, but Heard continued advancing, prompting Andrew to fire three rounds. Heard was struck and later died at a hospital.
The D.A.’s office concluded that Heard “showed no sign of compliance” when ordered to drop the knife and said Andrew commanded him six times to do so.
July 10, 2024 – death of Moises Colunga Jr, 50, in Chula Vista. The D.A.’s review states that Colunga crashed a car near Marina Parkway and Sandpiper Way, then tried to drive away from officers.
Due to damage to his car, Colunga was unable to leave, but refused to get out of his car when ordered to by an officer. That officer called for backup upon seeing Colunga “moving near the center console,” the review states. Chula Vista Sgt. Patrick Alvarez was one of those who responded.
Officers fired pepper balls, but Colunga remained in the car. At one point, he pointed a “silver metal object” toward officers, so Alvarez fired bean bag rounds to no effect, according to the D.A.’s office.
Later, Colunga pointed a silver handgun at the officers and fired one round. Alvarez returned fire, killing Colunga.
The review states, “Alvarez discharged his firearm under the reasonable belief that Colunga had the “apparent intent to inflict serious bodily injury or death upon him or his fellow officers.”
Nov. 15, 2024 – death of Victor Rendon Jr., 34, in Spring Valley. Sheriff’s deputies responded after Rendon’s ex-girlfriend reported that Rendon had showed up uninvited at her residence and entered through a back door, armed with a pistol and “acting erratically.”
He also fired the gun at times before exiting the home. Near the front door of the home, Rendon emerged while holding the pistol as multiple deputies ordered him to surrender, the D.A.’s review states.
Rendon then raised the gun and they opened fire. He died at the scene.
The review states the deputies involved, Darryl Patmon, Evan Carey, Chalit Carranto, Thomas Cook, Frank Spinelli, Derek Trumbo and Manuel Zamora, had reason to believe Rendon presented a threat.
Rendon’s family recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and all seven deputies.
The non-fatal cases include three North County shootings and one in San Diego in which the suspect was holding a child when he was shot:
Oct. 20, 2023 – non-injury shooting involving Patrick Doherty, 25, in Carlsbad. The D.A.’s office said Carlsbad Officer Vincent Abbate tried to stop Doherty’s van after seeing the vehicle speed and run red lights and stop signs.
Doherty pulled over and when Abbate approached the passenger’s side, he knocked on the door. The suspect then raised a handgun and pointed it at the officer. Abbate retreated and Doherty fired one shot in his direction.
Abbate then ran to his patrol vehicle and fired multiple rounds through the rear window of Doherty’s van. Prosecutors say Doherty drove off, but stopped the van a short distance away and was arrested.
According to the D.A.’s review, Doherty’s “sudden and violent actions” provided Abbate with “no opportunity to use less than lethal force options.”
Doherty was convicted of attempted murder and other charges and sentenced to over 20 years in state prison.
March 29, 2024 – shooting involving Kyle McCord, 32, also in Carlsbad. Officer Michael McKinney’s patrol car was struck by a rock while he was driving that night, prompting him to pull into a shopping center on Carlsbad Village Drive.
While McKinney and another officer inspected the damage, McCord approached from behind, struck the lawman in the back of the head with the skateboard, then ran, according to the D.A.’s office.
Believing he’d been shot, McKinney fired three rounds at McCord, none of which struck him. McKinney was later treated for a skull fracture, brain bleed and concussion.
Body worn camera footage released by Carlsbad police showed that while McCord ran, a rock fell out of his pocket. Another officer arrested McCord about three blocks away.
The D.A.’s review states that McKinney “reasonably believed he had been shot” and also had good cause to believe McCord might shoot another officer.
McCord was initially charged with attempted murder, but pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, plus allegations of causing great bodily injury. He was sentenced to 10 years behind bars, plus a consecutive eight months on an unrelated, separate case of assault on an officer.
May 19, 2024 – shooting of Steffon Nutall, 29, in Chollas View. Nutall was shot during a foot chase with San Diego police after Nutall allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend, then took their child from the woman’s apartment.
San Diego Officer Robert Gladysz was among those who gave chase in the brush surrounding the apartment complex. The D.A.’s office said he spotted Nutall, who raised a dark object towards the officer.
Gladysz opened fire, striking Nutall multiple times. At the time, Nutall was holding his daughter, but the girl was not struck by the gunfire.
In video footage released by police, Gladysz is seen telling an officer that he “didn’t see a kid,” but saw Nutall holding a gun.
The D.A.’s review states that police had been warned Nutall was armed and had threatened to shoot his ex-girlfriend, among others, leading Gladysz to reasonably believe the suspect had raised a handgun, the review states.
Nutall pleaded guilty to charges of child endangerment, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in state prison.
He later sued the city of San Diego and Gladysz, alleging in his complaint that Gladysz used “excessive, unnecessary and unlawful” force by opening fire.
Oct. 2, 2024 – shooting of Antonio Rosales, 34, in Escondido. Police responded to reports of a man threatening a woman with a gun at an Escondido transit center. She pointed out Rosales to officers.
Rosales was ordered to stop, but took off running, the D.A’s review states. Escondido Officer Corey Montross was among those who gave chase. During the pursuit, Rosales was seen “manipulating an object in his hands,” which Montross believed was a gun, prosecutors said.
At some point, Rosales stopped, turned, and pointed the object at his own neck. The review states that Montross opened fire, believing Rosales was going to shoot him.
Rosales, shot multiple times, survived his injuries. His firearm turned out to be a pellet gun.
The D.A.’s office concluded that Montross “believed Rosales had turned to confront and shoot him” and that a reasonable officer would have come to the same conclusion.
Rosales pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and was placed on probation after serving a year in jail.
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