#san diego

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials report that on August 15, 2023, at about 6:45 p.m., San Diego Police Department detectives were serving a search warrant san diego county sheriff department logofor an apartment in the 6100 block of El Cajon Blvd in San Diego. The subject of the search warrant was identified by their detectives as the outstanding suspect in a shooting that occurred on August 2, 2023. That shooting was the catalyst for the radio call that SDPD responded to, and eventually ended in an OIS at Mesa College.

SDPD detectives set up a perimeter on the apartment building and conducted a contain and call-out procedure. They made phone calls into the apartment, did call-outs directly outside of the apartment and gave verbal commands and warnings. The suspect eventually exited the apartment with a loaded handgun in his hand. Officers gave the suspect commands to drop the gun, which he eventually did. Officers gave the suspect commands to move away from the handgun which was on the ground near his feet. The suspect refused and kept looking at the gun. Despite multiple warnings and commands from the officers, the suspect quickly lunged to grab the gun. This prompted one of the officers to discharge his firearm multiple times. The suspect was struck multiple times and went to the ground. Officers provided medical aid, but the suspect succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by paramedics around 7:00 p.m.

The Medical Examiner's office conducted an autopsy. The preliminary results for the cause of death are gunshot wounds; the manner is homicide. The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Xavier Benjamine Lacosta. His last known address was in the city of San Diego.

Lacosta was previously arrested and convicted of 23152(B) VC – Driving under the influence and 11377(A) HS – Possession of methamphetamine.

No officers or civilians were injured. The officer involved in the shooting has been identified as Gregory Simon. He has been employed by the San Diego Police Department since September of 2016. He is currently assigned to the Special Operations Unit.

To view the previous press release dated August 16, 2023, click links below.

Per the Countywide Memorandum of Understanding, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Homicide Unit was called to the scene to conduct the officer-involved-shooting investigation. At this stage of the investigation, the circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation. Detectives are currently gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The investigation and review process for officer-involved shootings are extremely thorough. When the Homicide Unit completes its investigation, it will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the officers bear any state criminal liability for their actions. The San Diego Police Department will conduct an administrative investigation into the officer’s discharge of his firearm. The Commission on Police Practices (CPP) will conduct a review of the incident and provide any appropriate recommendations. The Department of Justice was notified of the above incident.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department released video Friday of a fatal shooting that occurred last week in Little Italy after a woman stabbed a San Diego Police Department officer in the chest.

The incident took place at around 12:30 p.m. on March 3, in the 400 block of W. Beech Street in Little Italy.

The video shows a San Diego County Sheriff's deputy serving an eviction notice to the woman identified as Yan Li, 47, at the Aqua Vista condo complex. When she answers the door, she receives the notice from the deputy and is seen carrying a knife. The deputy tells her to drop the knife and then takes out his gun and points it at Li.

The deputy repeats commands to drop the knife multiple times, while Li shouts concerns about how to know whether the deputy is an imposter. The two continue to argue before Li throws out the notice and closes the door. That's when the deputy calls for backup.

SDPD K9 arrived at the scene along with additional deputies. They tried to communicate with Li for the next 45 minutes before they went inside her condo, according to SDPD Lt. Matt Dobbs. The footage released by SDSO shows a supervisor attempting to speak with Li through the door.

Li didn't answer, so authorities broke through the door and instructed Li to show her hands while pointing their guns at her. Li then ran at the officers with a knife and allegedly stabbed an SDPD K9 officer in the chest. Li continued wielding a knife toward the officers after they fell on the ground, and then three SDSO deputies and one SDPD officer fired multiple shots at Li.

Li was struck at least once and died at the scene, according to Dobbs.

The Psychological Emergency Response Team (PERT) was called to the scene, but it's unclear if and when they showed up.

Dobbs added that Li threatened a custodial worker at the building a day before. SDSO said in the video that based on the reported crime, there was a threat to public safety and probable cause to arrest Li for assault with a deadly weapon before entering her apartment.

The injured K9 officer was treated at UC San Diego Medical Center for his injuries was released. He was wearing a protective vest but was stabbed above it in his upper chest, according to Dobbs.

The personnel who fired their guns during the encounter have been identified as SDPD Officer Rogelio Medina, and Sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Nickel and Deputies Javier Medina and David Williams.

Medina, a member of the SDPD Canine Unit, has been with the department for 13 years. Nickel has been employed by the Sheriff's Department for 29 years, Medina for 23 years and Williams for 14 years.

The shooting is under investigation by SDPD's homicide unit. When the investigation is finished, it will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the officers bear any criminal liability for their actions.