Erik Simon Sanders: Three SWAT officers fired on Nipoma Street in Point Loma after a five-hour standoff
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (August 25, 2026): Erik Simon Sanders, 24, of Alpine, died Tuesday night after three San Diego Police Department SWAT officers shot him outside a home in the 2700 block of Nipoma Street in the Point Loma area, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, which investigates SDPD shootings under county protocol. The Sheriff’s Office said SDPD officers were sent at about 4:40 p.m. on a welfare check that was updated to a burglary in progress after the homeowner reported unauthorized people inside a residence that contained firearms. SWAT used tactical methods over several hours and multiple gunshots were heard from inside the home, the release said. At about 9:20 p.m., a man exited the front door armed with a gun and three officers fired, striking him.
Sanders was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m. and a firearm was recovered, according to the Sheriff’s release and the Times of San Diego. The Sheriff’s Office identified the officers who fired as Christopher Lingenhol, David Speck and Jose Velasquez. No officers were injured. The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is leading the investigation, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office will review it for criminal liability, and SDPD will conduct a separate administrative review, per the Sheriff’s release. Body camera video was not mentioned in the release or news reports. No family statement has been reported.
Liability for San Diego County Police Shootings
A five-hour standoff gives police time, and the law asks how they used it. California Penal Code § 835a permits deadly force only when necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury, and it weighs the officers’ tactics before the shooting. The Fourth Amendment, applied through Graham v. Connor (1989) 490 U.S. 386, judges whether the force was objectively reasonable. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 provides claims against the three officers and, under Monell v. Department of Social Services (1978) 436 U.S. 658, against the City of San Diego for a policy or training failure. The Bane Act, California Civil Code § 52.1, adds a state claim.
- The moment of exit: whether Sanders pointed the gun or simply carried it when he came through the door, and whether officers gave a warning.
- Tactical planning: what negotiation, crisis intervention or less-lethal plan SWAT had in place during the hours before 9:20 p.m., and whether it was followed.
- Three shooters: the number of rounds fired by Lingenhol, Speck and Velasquez, and whether any were fired after Sanders was down.
- Evidence from inside: the gunshots heard inside and the firearms the homeowner reported must be reconciled with the physical evidence.
If the evidence shows the shooting was not necessary, Sanders’s parents or other heirs could bring excessive force, Bane Act and wrongful death claims. Damages include loss of his love, companionship and support, funeral expenses and, through a survival claim, his pain before death, with punitive damages possible under § 1983.
Steps to Take After a San Diego County Police Shooting
According to the California Department of Justice’s statewide use-of-force data, most civilians who die in police shootings in California are reported by the involved agency to have been armed, which is why independent verification of the weapon and the moment of the shots matters.
- Request the Sheriff’s file: records requests under Penal Code § 832.7 and the California Public Records Act should go to both the Sheriff’s Office and SDPD.
- Preserve neighborhood video: neighbors and doorbell cameras on Nipoma Street likely recorded the SWAT operation; ask them to save footage now.
- Obtain the autopsy: the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s report will document each wound and can be compared with the officers’ positions.
- Consult counsel before speaking: Homicide Unit investigators and SDPD will seek family interviews; relatives may have an attorney present.
- Monitor the District Attorney’s review: the DA publishes letters on officer-involved shootings; a decision not to charge does not decide a civil claim.
Civil rights and wrongful death claims in California generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Because the City of San Diego is a public entity, a government claim must be presented within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating San Diego County Police Shootings
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Erik Simon Sanders. What did SWAT do during the five hours before the shooting to end the standoff peacefully? Was Sanders pointing the gun at officers when he came through the door, and did all three officers need to fire?
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 September 16, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on August 25, 2026.
