California Attorney General’s Office Investigating Fatal Shooting of Maria Toedt in Escondido Along Interstate 15 South
ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA (September 22, 2025) – A woman identified as Maria Toedt has tragically died in an Escondido police shooting along Interstate 15 in the Miramar area.
San Diego County officials are saying that the incident ended around 5:45 p.m. on Friday. Maria Toedt was involved in a vehicle pursuit on Interstate 15 south.
The pursuit eventually ended in a crash. At some point following that accident, a police officer fired into her vehicle and struck her. Paramedics were called to the scene of the shooting to help the woman.
Maria Toedt was loaded onto a stretcher and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, she was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The victim did not appear to be armed at the time she was fatally shot.
The California Attorney General is currently investigating the shooting, as required by AB 1506. Investigations are required by the California Department of Justice anytime an unarmed civilian is fatally shot by law enforcement.
Liability for San Diego County Police Shootings
Police officers in California must use a great deal of care to avoid needlessly harming suspects. Pursuant to California Penal Code § 835a, a police officer is only justified when using lethal force upon another person if, taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances, that force is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of serious injury or death. There are many steps that police officers should take to avoid harming suspects.
- De-Escalation Techniques: Police officers should do everything in their power to calm suspects. They should use clear, respectful language to reduce the tension of the situation. This involves building a rapport with the suspect.
- Force Continuum: Police officers should start by using the least amount of force necessary for any given situation. They should only escalate force as it becomes reasonably necessary, given the threat level.
- Less-Lethal Options: Police officers should use less-lethal options when those are available. This may include tasers or beanbag rounds.
- Proper Restraints: Police officers should ensure that suspects are restrained with the proper techniques. They should avoid using any holds that apply pressure to a suspect’s neck or lungs.
- Medical Considerations: Police officers should be aware of the developing medical issues that a suspect may face. They should call for medical assistance if the suspect appears to be injured or in medical distress.
When a police officer kills a suspect in California, their surviving family members are able to seek some measure of accountability through CCP § 377.60. In a negligence claim against a California police department, plaintiffs may need to demonstrate that the police failed to follow training or other safety protocols. Consider, for example, People v. Brown, 245 Cal. App. 4th 140, 171 (Ct. App. 2016). An officer’s “failure to follow a safety rule promulgated by his employer, regardless of its substance, serves as evidence of negligence.”
Pursuing Constitutional Claims After Police Shootings
Police officers have a great deal of leeway when it comes to performing their job duties. But at no point are police officers allowed to use excessive force. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute or ordinance, causes a person to be deprived of their rights protected by the constitution shall be liable to the injured party through an action at law. There are many different ways that law enforcement may use excessive force.
- Unjustified Force: Police officers may have used force when there was no immediate threat of harm to them or another person. This may be the case if officers shot an unarmed suspect who was merely attempting to flee.
- Restrained Suspects: Police officers may have shot or hit a suspect who was already restrained.
- Department Protocols: Police officers may have failed to follow department protocols leading up to a shooting. This is especially common when the suspect in question was in the midst of a mental health crisis.
With the right training and safety protocols, many police shootings can be avoided. These incidents tend to involve officers who are either unwilling or unable to properly de-escalate encounters. To make matters worse, the departments that employ these officers will almost never accept responsibility when their officers harm or kill a person. The family of any person killed in a San Diego County police shooting may be able to pursue some measure of justice through a constitutional claim. It is important that these incidents are properly investigated by civil rights advocates.
Investigating San Diego County Police Shootings
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Maria Toedt. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is deeply concerning that this unarmed woman was tragically killed by law enforcement. San Diego County officials should do the right thing and be transparent about what took place. Many questions remain unanswered at this time.
Do you need more information about an Escondido police shooting? Our team of civil rights investigators is here for you. You can rest assured that we will do everything in our power to get you the information and resources that you are entitled to. We care deeply that victims of excessive force are aware of their rights and that police departments are held fully accountable for their illegal actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
