The city of San Diego has agreed to pay $800,000 to the family of a man who was fatally shot by San Diego police in the Mountain View neighborhood.
Jose Alfredo Castro Gutierrez, 39, a Mexican national, was shot on Oct. 19, 2020, while family members say he was in the midst of a mental health crisis.
At the time, San Diego police said officers responded to reports of a man breaking objects with a metal rod. When officers arrived, Castro Gutierrez “ran at full speed” toward the officers while clutching the metal pole, according to SDPD. One officer fired live rounds, while others shot bean bag rounds or used a stun gun.
Castro Gutierrez died at a hospital.
His family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit that alleged the officer who fired the fatal shots, Isai Castillo, used excessive force and should have utilized non-lethal methods like the other officers on scene.
Attorney Eugene Iredale, who represents Castro Gutierrez’s widow, said in a statement, “Alfredo’s death was entirely avoidable. Dealing with mentally disturbed persons requires speaking slowly, deploying appropriately, and using proper tactics (including non-lethal force is required). The failure of training and leadership resulted in a senseless death and a needless tragedy for Ana Ojeda, Alfredo’s widow, and their children”