Man, 20, fatally shot by police in south central San Diego identified
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego County Sheriff's Office has identified the man fatally shot by San Diego police in the Stockton neighborhood of south central San Diego last week, as well as the officers who fired their weapons.
In an update Wednesday, SDSO Lt. Juan Marquez named Kevin Garcia Gonzalez, a 20-year-old resident of San Diego, as the man killed in the shooting outside Bethel AME Church on the morning of Friday, April 4.
Per the sheriff's office, the incident began around 10 a.m., when police patrolling the area were flagged down by a civilian to report a man near the intersection of 31st and K streets who may have had a firearm.
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Officers were told the man was sitting inside a vehicle, pointing what appeared to be a revolver at another individual, Marquez said.
A short while later, the man — Gonzalez — was found inside a stationary Ford Fusion with a female companion in the passenger seat. The woman safely exited the vehicle as officers began negotiations with Gonzalez.
According to Marquez, officers attempted to negotiate Gonzalez's exit from the vehicle for over an hour, including with less-lethal force in the form of pepper balls, before he allegedly pointed a weapon towards law enforcement through the open driver's side window.
Five officers and a police sergeant fired multiple rounds at the vehicle at that point, striking Gonzalez a number of times, per SDSO. No shots were fired towards officers, nor were any injuries to law enforcement reported.
The sheriff's office identified the SDPD personnel who fired their weapons as Sergeant Edward Laurendeau, acting Sergeant Zane Sisneros, and officers Michael Hagen, Diego Arellanes, Ruben Berton and Fernando Fernandez.
All of the officers involved have been with the department for five or more years, per SDSO. Most are currently assigned to either the Central or Southern Division, except for Laurendeau, who is with the K-9 unit, and Fernandez, who is in the Southeastern Division.
Two of the involved officers, Berton and Fernandez, also are members of the SWAT team, according to the sheriff's office.
After shots were fired, Marquez said officers pulled the 20-year-old from the vehicle to attempt life-saving measures before paramedics escorted him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The sheriff's Homicide Unit was called to the scene to investigate the incident, per the county's protocols on officer-involved shootings.
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A BB gun that resembled a revolver was recovered from inside the Ford Fusion, according to the sheriff's office. The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation.
Once the investigation is complete, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office will review its findings to determine whether the officers involved bear criminal liability for the incident. SDPD is concurrently conducting an administrative review into the justification of the officers' actions.
Marquez says the sheriff's office contacted the Department of Justice to monitor the investigation, but they declined to respond.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with information on the shooting to contact SDSO's Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or by using the after hours line at 858-868-3200. Those who would like to remain anonymous can do so by calling Crime Stoppers 888-580-8477.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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