The shooting occurred at approximately 2:00 AM on April 8, 2026, and resulted in the death of one individual, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta's announcement. The incident involved deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, though the agency has not yet released details about the circumstances leading to the shooting or the identity of the deceased.
Under Assembly Bill 1506, which took effect in 2022, the California DOJ is required to investigate all officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian. The law mandates independent state review of such incidents to ensure accountability and transparency in police use of deadly force cases.
The DOJ's California Police Shooting Investigation Team has initiated the investigation and will conduct an independent review of the incident. Upon completion, the investigation will be transferred to the DOJ's Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for prosecutorial review to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
The investigation represents the latest in a series of state reviews of police shootings since AB 1506's implementation. The law was enacted following widespread calls for police reform and independent oversight of officer-involved fatalities, particularly those involving unarmed individuals.
The DOJ has established a public tip line at (916) 210-2871 for anyone with information related to the shooting incident. The agency emphasized that the investigation details provided are preliminary and may evolve as the review continues.
The independent investigation will examine whether the use of deadly force was legally justified under California law and department policy. The DOJ's findings could result in criminal charges against the involved officers or recommendations for policy changes within the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.