California Attorney General’s Office Investigates Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Civilian in Lathrop, Identified as Enrique Lozano
LATHROP, CALIFORNIA (August 29, 2026) – A 35-year-old man identified as Enrique Lozano has tragically died in a Lathrop police shooting at a home on Pamela Court.
San Joaquin County officials are saying that the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Police officers were called to a home after getting reports of a possible domestic disturbance.
At some point during the response, officers encountered Enrique Lozano and opened fire. It remains unclear what may have led up to the shooting.
However, it has been confirmed that the victim was unarmed at the time of the incident. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help him.
Unfortunately, Enrique Lozano was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting remains under investigation by the California Attorney General’s Office, as required by Assembly Bill 1506.
Liability for Lathrop Police Shootings
Police departments in California have a legal obligation to use the least amount of force necessary for any given encounter. Under the Supreme Court case Graham v. Connor, claims that involve the use of police force during any type of seizure will be evaluated under the objective-reasonableness standard. Courts will take into consideration numerous factors when evaluating whether or not any specific use of force was actually reasonable.
- Threat: It matters whether or not the suspect had the ability and apparent intent to seriously injure the responding officers or another third party.
- Prior Knowledge: The information that officers knew going into the situation should also be taken into consideration.
- Alternatives: Another item that should be considered is whether officers attempted to de-escalate the encounter through communication and other measures.
- Crime Seriousness: The seriousness of the suspected crime is another important factor.
Police force should always be used as a measure of last resort. Excessive force utilized by police officers forms the basis of a constitutional claim under 42 U.S. Code § 1983. Consider, for example, Hayes v. County of San Diego, 57 Cal.4th 622 (2013). San Diego police officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call when they encountered a man holding a large knife before fatally shooting him. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the deputies used negligent tactics that contributed to the shooting, including confronting the suspect in a way that contributed to their need to use lethal force.
Steps to Take After San Joaquin County Police Shootings
Police shootings tend to be highly preventable in many different situations. They often involve officers that are either unwilling or unable to adequately de-escalate encounters. Under California DOJ’s AB 1506 program, the state is required to investigate any officer-involved shooting that leads to the death of a civilian who is not armed. Unfortunately, police use of force remains a widespread occurrence throughout California. The California DOJ has estimated that there were 581 incidents in 2024 where civilians were injured by the police use of a firearm. Multiple actions should be taken after any police shooting in California.
- Body Cameras: All of the body camera footage captured by responding officers should be carefully reviewed.
- Dispatch Records: The 911 recordings and dispatch records related to the incident should be carefully reviewed. It matters what officers knew going into the encounter.
- Medical Records: Medical records related to the victim’s injuries can help corroborate what actually happened.
- Legal Review: The family of any person who died due to the negligent actions of police officers should request an independent review by a team experienced in constitutional law.
Gaining any type of meaningful accountability after a fatal police shooting requires a careful examination of the facts. Unfortunately, police departments will almost never accept responsibility when one of their officers acts wrongfully and kills an unarmed civilian. This is why it is so important that these incidents are properly investigated by an outside party. The family of any person who died due to the negligent actions of police officers is able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.
Investigating San Joaquin County Police Shootings
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Enrique Lozano. Anyone who may have more information about this incident should reach out to the California Attorney General’s Office. This was a preventable tragedy that should never have taken place. Many important questions have yet to be answered. What is the record of the responding officers? Have they been the subject of civil rights complaints in the past?
Do you need more information about a police shooting in Lathrop? Are you concerned that officers did not follow police procedures in how they handled the specific encounter? Our team of civil rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping people understand their rights and holding law enforcement agencies accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique facts of any case, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
