San Diego police officers fatally shot an allegedly suicidal man armed with a knife in Ocean Beach on Saturday after he crashed a car into another vehicle while being pursued by officers.
The incident began when a police officer was sent to check the welfare of a man standing in the middle of Coronado Avenue who was blocking traffic around 9:15 a.m.. The man, who was making suicidal statements, got into a car and drove off as other officers were called to assist, authorities said.
The man led officers on a short chase on surface streets before crashing into a Jeep blocking the intersection at Ebers Street and Bermuda Avenue, sheriff’s Lt. Juan Marquez said in a statement.
The man got out of the sedan and made suicidal statements, Marquez said. Officers used “less-lethal options” to try to de-escalate the situation, but the man, armed with a knife, advanced on officers, Marquez said.
“One San Diego police officer shot multiple rounds at the suspect, striking him,” Marquez said.
Officers started lifesaving measures on the man until paramedics arrived. He was transported to a hospital, where he died. His name was withheld pending notification of relatives.
No officers were injured, he said.
The Jeep driver complained of pain but did not want to be taken to a hospital.
Homicide detectives from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office were investigating the shooting under of a countywide agreement that agencies not investigate shootings involving their own officers.
Marquez said detectives were gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and examining the circumstances that led to the shooting.
This is the seventh shooting by San Diego police officers in 2025, and the sixth to be fatal.
Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call the sheriff’s homicide unit at 858-285-6330.
Staff writer Karen Kucher contributed to this report.
