Gary Gates Died After Being Shot by San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy in Imperial Beach During Christmas by the Sea Pow Wow
IMPERIAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA (December 24, 2025) – A man identified as Gary Gates has tragically died in an Imperial Beach police shooting during a Christmas event.
San Diego County officials are saying that the incident took place around 1:30 PM on Sunday. Police were working at the event when they were approached by Gary Gates.
He asked to speak with the officers. The San Diego Police Department claims that he made statements that were consistent with wanting to be shot by officers.
At some point during the encounter, the subject allegedly pulled out a knife and began moving towards officers. It was at this point that an officer-involved shooting took place.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the shooting to help the man. Sadly, Gary Gates did not survive his injuries.
Friends have since decorated a memorial at the location of the shooting. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Imperial Beach Police Shooting
Police officers in California must use caution to avoid harming suspects. A police department can be liable for the excessive force of their officers. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. There are many ways that police officers may have acted negligently and contributed to the shooting death of a suspect.
- De-escalation: Officers may have ignored multiple opportunities to de-escalate the encounter.
- Mental Health: Officers may have failed to follow police protocols related to suspects that may be in the midst of a mental health crisis.
- Tactical Decisions: Officers may have made poor tactical decisions and rushed into an encounter without first waiting for backup.
Many police shootings are preventable. They tend to involve situations where officers are either unwilling or unable to de-escalate encounters. Many of these incidents involve people who are in the midst of a mental health crisis. In fact, it’s been estimated that people with an untreated mental illness were nearly 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than the general public.
Steps to Take After San Diego County Police Shootings
Far too many people are seriously injured or killed every year in police shootings. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “About 195 people die each year from interactions with California law enforcement. Gunshots are by far the most common cause of death: nearly 250 people are shot by police each year.” It is important that certain measures are taken after any fatal police shooting.
- Context: The context surrounding the shooting should be thoroughly investigated. Under California law, an officer’s use of force may be unreasonable given the totality of circumstances surrounding the event.
- Medical Records: All of the medical records related to the incident should be carefully reviewed and collected. They can help paint a clear picture of what happened.
- Body Camera Footage: Body camera footage from all officers involved should be recovered and reviewed.
- Legal Review: The family members of any person killed by law enforcement should seek the legal guidance of experienced civil rights attorneys.
Police departments will virtually never be transparent when their officers shoot and kill a suspect. When these police departments review the actions of their officers, they will nearly always come to the conclusion that those officers did nothing wrong. But that is often not the case. One of the major causes of police shootings is poor training and failing to follow established protocol. The family of any person who died due to the negligent actions of police officers may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a constitutional claim.
Investigating San Diego County Police Shootings
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Gary Gates. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about an Imperial Beach police shooting? Our team of civil rights advocates is here to answer any questions you may have. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and holding law enforcement accountable for their wrongful actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
