By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The San Diego Police Department has released the names of two officers involved in a fatal shooting of a suicidal man at an apartment complex in San Diego earlier this week.
The officers were identified as Officer Gavin Isa and Officer Eric Moreno. Both have served with the department for four and a half years and are assigned to the Central Division Patrol.
The man who died was 26-year-old Andrew Christian Engel, a San Diego resident.
On January 13 at 6:54 p.m., SDPD Central Division officers responded to an emergency call regarding a suicidal individual at an apartment complex at 1150 E Street. The caller, identified as the man’s roommate, reported that Engel had attempted suicide using a knife.
Within two minutes of the call, officers arrived at the scene and evacuated six other occupants from the apartment to ensure their safety. While awaiting additional officers, Engel confronted them inside the apartment, advancing toward them with a knife in hand.
Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, Engel continued to approach. Officers Isa and Moreno then discharged their weapons, striking him.
Following the shooting, officers administered life-saving measures until paramedics from the San Diego Fire Department arrived. Engel was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Neither officer was injured during the incident.
Per the Countywide Memorandum of Understanding, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The Sheriff’s Office is working to determine the circumstances and motivation behind the incident.
Once the Homicide Unit concludes its investigation, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office will review the case to evaluate whether the officers’ actions warrant criminal charges. The San Diego Police Department will conduct an internal administrative review of the officers’ use of force.
