Former SWAT commander and lethal force instructor provides insight into shooting

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – On Wednesday, a man named Jonathan saw, heard and filmed the fatal officer involved shooting involving a suspect and police in Little Italy.

“And he’s just like dodging it, and they’re like, ‘Drop the gun, drop the gun,’” Jonathan said.

He shared the video he recorded after the incident with ABC 10News.

“You can actually see the shooter standing behind the gray boxes,” Jonathan said.

Police said the suspect allegedly killed two people in the city earlier that morning before being cornered at Kettner and Juniper in Little Italy.

“As the trolley goes by, you hear the gunshots,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan told us his own safety was a top priority when the shooting occurred.

‘Also making sure the trolley would pass by. That was a concern because we have a lot of friends who also ride the trolley,” Jonathan said.

I have contacted MTS about Jonathan’s concerns.

MTS told ABC 10News that a trolley was passing through the area at the time of the shooting. A check was made for visible damage, but nothing was reported.

ABC 10News spoke Thursday with Ray Shay, former SWAT commander for the San Diego Police Department and lethal force instructor at the regional police academy.

“We’ve always trained police officers to look at the big picture. Focus on the threat, but be aware of what’s going on around you,” Shay said.

We spoke with him about how officers are trained to handle these standoffs and gunfights, in addition to the conditions we could see in the video.
“Please note that this armed suspect was actually on a cul-de-sac, commercial buildings. That’s a good background or field of fire,” Shay said. ‘So with the trolley behind it, that’s not necessarily a no. -to shoot.”

Shay also said the caliber of weapons used by police could also have played a role.

“The caliber of firearms officers used at the scene were small caliber, meaning they do not have the power to punch through thick metal or injure the people in the trolley,” Shay said.

That’s clear from the video ABC 10News obtained Thursday.

Here’s a look at the electrical box the suspect was hiding behind at the time:

ABC 10 News

There are plenty of bullet holes from the gunfire, but no bullets appear to pass through the metal.

ABC 10News reached out to the Port of San Diego and Harbor Police about the training or guidance officers receive when it comes to the background and environment of a possible shootout with an armed possible suspect.

This statement is from Magda Fernandez, Chief of Port of San Diego Harbor Police:

“As standard procedure in these types of incidents, the San Diego Police Department will investigate whether our officers’ actions were consistent with policy and the law, and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office will review the findings. In line with the Port Police’s commitment to public safety and transparency, we are fully cooperating with the investigation.”