The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office cleared law enforcement officers involved in four recent shootings of criminal liability, finding their actions against the armed suspects were legally justified.
The incidents occurred between April 2023 and May 2024 and resulted in the deaths of two men and injuries to two others. The shootings involved San Diego police and California Highway Patrol officers, as well as San Diego County sheriff’s deputies.
In each instance, the officers shot the men as they threatened them with a gun or knife, the District Attorney’s Office said. In at least one harrowing instance, the suspect shot a police sergeant in the head before other officers returned fire and killed him.
The first shooting occurred April 24, 2023, when Jose Murillo, Jr., 28, pulled up behind a CHP officer on Interstate 805 in Lincoln Park and brandished a pocketknife, prosecutors said. The officer told the man to drop the knife, but Murillo exited his car and charged at him instead — forcing the officer to open fire.
Murillo survived his wounds. He was convicted and sentenced to one year in custody and two years’ probation, officials said.
The second incident occurred Nov. 13, 2023, when 22-year-old Imanol Aparicio fled from officers after he had shot his ex-girlfriend in the forehead at a home on Polk Avenue near 45th Street in City Heights, investigators said.
While following him on foot, three San Diego police officers saw him reach for a gun in his waistband and opened fire, body-worn camera footage showed. Officers fired again when Aparicio continued to reach for his gun while lying on the ground.
Aparicio died from his wounds. His ex-girlfriend survived.
San Diego police fatally shot Curtis Harris, 46, on Dec. 7, 2023, while trying to serve him with an emergency protective order at a Ralphs grocery store in 4S Ranch.
During a short foot pursuit, Harris shot Sgt. Anthony Elliot in the head before three officers returned gunfire and fatally shot Harris.
Elliot survived his injuries.
On May 4, deputies shot Patrick Lowell, 66, on state Route 76 near Via Montellano in Bonsall. Lowell was armed with a black replica Glock 9mm handgun and a knife, and the deputies opened fire when he refused multiple commands to stop walking toward them.
Lowell later pleaded guilty to two felony counts and was sentenced to two years in prison.
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