REGION — Nine local law enforcement officers have been cleared of criminal liability in four separate police shootings, according to reviews released by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
The incidents date from April of 2023 through May of 2024 and happened in San Diego and Bonsall. Of the four police shootings, two were fatal. They involved San Diego police officers, sheriff’s deputies and a California Highway Patrol officer.
The shootings reviewed by prosecutors include:
- The Nov. 13, 2023 fatal shooting of Imanol Aparicio, 22, in City
After a woman reported that her boyfriend – Aparicio – shot her in the head, San Diego police officers responded to an address where he was known to reside, the D.A.’s Office review stated.
When they spotted Aparicio walking outside, he took off running and officers gave chase.
During the chase, Aparicio ran into an alley off Wightman Street and reached to his waistband. Ignoring commands to show his hands, Aparicio continued reaching for his waistband and two of the officers opened fire, the D.A.’s Office said.
Aparicio fell to the ground, then sat up while holding a handgun, and didn’t drop it. The officers – San Diego Police Sgt. Matthew Ruggiero and SDPD Officers Jeremy Avalos and Jonah Tafoya – opened fire again, striking him. Aparicio died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The D.A.’s review states the officers “reasonably believed, based on the totality of circumstances, that such force was necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.”
- The Dec. 7, 2023 fatal shooting of Curtis Harris, 46, in 4S Ranch.
Harris was a suspect in a domestic violence and child abuse incident who allegedly stole his girlfriend’s vehicle.
The car was tracked to a Ralphs in 4S Ranch. When Harris exited the grocery store, he took off running. During a foot chase, Harris turned and shot SDPD Sgt. Anthony Elliott in the head.
SDPD Officers Tanarat Crowe, Darrion Talalele and Trevor Wright returned fire, fatally wounding Harris. Elliott survived his injuries.
The D.A.’s review states “because of the quick and deadly nature of Harris’ actions, the officers had no available less-lethal force options.”
- The May 4, 2024 non-fatal shooting of Patrick Lowell, 66, in Bonsall.
Deputies responded after receiving 911 calls regarding a man carrying a gun and a knife while walking along state Route 76.
San Diego County sheriff’s deputies Lisa Lee and Jorge Chavez spotted Lowell on the westbound shoulder and told him to stop, but he didn’t, according to the D.A.’s Office.
When he continued walking and got within 40 feet of the deputies, they opened fire. Lowell was struck in the buttocks and fell, dropping his gun.
Lowell later pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and brandishing a gun at a police officer. He was sentenced to two years in state prison.
The D.A.’s review notes the deputies were faced with “an alarming and rapidly evolving situation” and that there were multiple civilians in the area. It states the deputies “reasonably concluded that the deployment of less- lethal options was not feasible” and that he had the ability to hurt them or members of the public.
- The April 24, 2023 non-fatal shooting of Jose Murillo, 28, on Interstate 805 in Lincoln Park.
Murillo pulled up behind CHP Officer Jesse Matias, who was stopped on the shoulder on the freeway. When Matias asked Murillo to step out of his car, Murillo brandished a knife, the D.A.’s Office said.
Matias then backed up and ordered Murillo to drop the knife, but he advanced on the lawman, prompting Matias to open fire, according to the review.
Murillo was shot multiple times and later convicted by a jury of charges that include assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. He was later sentenced to one year in jail, plus two years of probation.
The D.A.’s review states Murillo “quickly charged at Matias with the knife in hand while pointing it at Matias” and Matias “discharged his handgun under the reasonable belief that the use of deadly force was necessary to defend against the imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.”
