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Accident – Death – Obituary News : SAN DIEGO — Shocking body-worn camera footage has been released by the San Diego Police, revealing the moment officers shot an armed man after he allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend in the forehead. The incident took place at a residence in City Heights last week, and while the woman survived her injuries, the ex-boyfriend, Imanol Aparicio, sadly did not.
The video shows that Sgt. Matthew Ruggiero, Officer Jeremy Avalos, and Officer Jonah Tafoya all fired their weapons during the encounter with Aparicio. These officers have been serving with the Mid-City Division since 2005, 2019, and 2020 respectively.
According to investigators, the shooting occurred after the three officers witnessed the man reaching for a gun in his waistband. The officers opened fire for a second time when the wounded Aparicio pointed the gun at them while on the ground.
Due to a reciprocal agreement between the San Diego Police and the county Sheriff’s Department, the investigation is being handled by the latter. This ensures that neither department investigates its own officers or deputies when they are involved in shooting incidents.
The released video includes text from the Police Department, describing the incident from the officers’ perspective, as well as images from crime scene photographers and footage from one of the officers’ body-worn cameras. It is important to note that only one of the videos was included in the edited version released to the public, in accordance with California law and out of respect for Aparicio’s family. However, all three videos will be made available once the investigations are complete.
The video begins with an audio recording of a call to 911 dispatchers made by the victim’s sister at around 11 p.m. on November 13. The caller informs the dispatcher that her sister had been shot in the head at a home on Polk Avenue and that the gunman was in close proximity.
Officers swiftly arrived at the scene and discovered the victim with a non-life-threatening “grazing” gunshot wound. Within just 30 minutes of the shooting, the officers located Aparicio on Wightman Street, less than a mile away from the crime scene.
The video then transitions to the body-worn camera footage of one of the officers involved in the shooting, referred to as “Officer No. 1” in the video. Two officers can be seen running down a sidewalk lined with cars and illuminated by streetlights. They turn a corner and Aparicio comes into view, only a few car lengths away from the officers.
Upon being asked by an officer to approach them, Aparicio turns around and raises his empty hands in the air. The officers move closer to him, their weapons raised and flashlights trained on the suspect.
“Get your hands out of your pockets. Turn around,” instructs one of the officers.
Aparicio, facing the officers at close range, defiantly responds, “Go for it, dude.” As he begins to back away, one of the officers warns him, “Don’t do it.” However, the man ignores the officers’ commands, turns, and flees.
The officers pursue Aparicio into an alleyway across the street. As they close in on him, one officer explicitly warns Aparicio, “I’m going to shoot you.” The video shows Aparicio seemingly turning towards the officers and reaching for his waistband, where a firearm is visible.
In response, the three officers open fire, discharging multiple rounds. Aparicio falls to the ground. The video text states that, even while on the ground, Aparicio still had the loaded firearm in his hand and pointed it towards the officers.
Consequently, the officers fire their weapons once again. A police helicopter recording of the scene reveals a handgun, later identified as an unregistered “ghost gun” assembled from a parts kit, lying near Aparicio’s left hand.
According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Department, a police dog was deployed to remove the gun from Aparicio’s vicinity. Aparicio was subsequently transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The edited police video concludes with a photograph of the handgun found at the scene. Investigators have confirmed that the loaded firearm’s trigger had been pulled, but the action had jammed. Additionally, Aparicio was found to be in possession of a backpack containing a 30-round magazine loaded with 13 bullets.
Once the Sheriff’s Department completes its investigation, the District Attorney’s Office will review the case to determine if the officers bear any criminal liability. Furthermore, the Police Department will conduct an internal administrative investigation into the shooting on Polk Avenue. The incident will also be reviewed by the Commission on Police Practices..
