Friars Road near the Morena/Linda Vista Trolley: A Man Is Shot and Killed by a San Diego Police Officer
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (October 21, 2026): A man was killed in a San Diego police shooting in the 4700 block of Friars Road on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 21, 2026, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the shooting. San Diego Police Department officers were sent at about 3:20 p.m. to a report that a man was using an axe to vandalize a trolley at the Morena/Linda Vista Trolley platform, the Sheriff’s Office said, as reported by NBC 7 San Diego and Times of San Diego.
Officers and the department’s air support unit searched the area, and at about 3:35 p.m. an officer found a man who matched the description on Friars Road, according to the Sheriff’s Office. “The subject had an axe with him in his hand and approached the officer,” Sheriff’s Homicide Lt. Juan Marquez told NBC 7. One officer fired multiple rounds and struck the man, the Sheriff’s Office said. Officers began first aid until paramedics arrived, and the man was pronounced dead at about 4:10 p.m. No officers were hurt.
NBC 7 reported that two witnesses heard two shots from the same officer’s gun, and that another witness said the man walked quickly toward the officer holding a hatchet. Friars Road was closed in both directions between Sea World Drive and Napa Street. Under a countywide agreement, the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is investigating, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office will review the case, and the police department will conduct an administrative review, the Sheriff’s Office said. Anyone with information can call the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
The man’s name and age have not been released, and the officer has not been identified. Authorities have not said how close the man was to the officer, what commands were given, whether a less-lethal option was used, or whether body-worn cameras recorded the encounter. The full sequence has not been independently reviewed. These are early accounts. Fault is determined by investigators and, in civil cases, by the courts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Liability for a San Diego Police Shooting
California Penal Code § 835a allows a peace officer to use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. Federal law, through 42 U.S.C. § 1983, generally allows a civil claim when a person acting under government authority violates constitutional rights, including the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable force. In Hayes v. County of San Diego (2013), the California Supreme Court held that officers’ tactical decisions before a shooting can be part of a negligence claim.
- The “imminent threat” question: The Sheriff’s Office says the man approached the officer with an axe. Investigators will look at distance, movement and what the officer could see just before the shots.
- What happened before the shots: Under Hayes, the officer’s approach, whether backup was close, and whether there was time to give warnings or create distance can matter in a negligence analysis.
- Federal civil rights claims: A Section 1983 claim generally asks whether the force was objectively reasonable, judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer at the scene.
- Public records: Under Penal Code § 832.7, records about an incident in which an officer fired at a person are generally not confidential and can be requested under the California Public Records Act, subject to limited exceptions.
These are general principles of California and federal law, not conclusions about this shooting, which remains under investigation.
Steps to Take After a Police Shooting in San Diego
Families often learn about a police shooting from the news before any agency calls. These steps can help a family learn what happened:
- Ask who is investigating: Here the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit investigates and the District Attorney reviews. Families can ask each agency for a contact person and a case number.
- Request records in writing: Families can ask in writing for the Medical Examiner’s report and, under Penal Code § 832.7, for records and recordings related to the shooting, as soon as possible.
- Save witness video: Anyone who recorded the trolley platform or Friars Road should keep the original file and share it with investigators or an attorney.
- Keep a record: Write down names, phone numbers and every conversation with investigators.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the Friars Road Police Shooting
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the man who died on Friars Road. Two questions remain open: did body-worn cameras capture the moments between the officer finding the man and the shots, and was there distance or time to use a less-lethal option first? The same Sheriff’s Office runs San Diego Central Jail, where Daniel Patrick Murphy died in custody.
If you or a loved one has been affected by a police or deputy shooting anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on October 22, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 21, 2026.
