Source link : https://sandiego365.info/2025/12/19/trial-begins-for-san-diego-deputy-charged-with-fatally-shooting-unarmed-man-fleeing-on-foot/
The trial of a San Diego County sheriff’s deputy accused of fatally shooting an unarmed man in the back as he ran away began this week, drawing renewed attention to the use of force by law enforcement in the region. Jurors will be asked to determine whether the deputy’s actions during the 2022 encounter were legally justified or constituted a criminal overreach, in a case that has stirred public debate over police accountability, training, and the treatment of fleeing suspects. Opening statements at the downtown San Diego courthouse set the stage for a closely watched proceeding, as prosecutors and defense attorneys offered sharply contrasting narratives of the moments leading up to the deadly gunfire.
Background on the fatal shooting and key evidence presented as the deputy stands trial
The case centers on a late-night encounter in rural East County, where authorities say a routine contact rapidly escalated into a deadly foot chase. According to investigators, the deputy fired multiple rounds as the 36-year-old man ran away across a dimly lit parking area, striking him in the back and killing him at the scene. Prosecutors argue the man was unarmed, posed no imminent threat, and was moving in the opposite direction when the shots were fired. Defense attorneys counter that the deputy had only seconds to react and believed the suspect might be reaching for a weapon or preparing to turn and attack.
In opening statements, jurors were told they would see and hear a range…
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Author : Miles Cooper
Publish date : 2025-12-19 03:56:00
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