A man described by witnesses as armed with a knife was fatally shot by San Diego police officers after reports placed him outside an elementary school in City Heights on Tuesday morning. The California Department of Justice has since announced it will take over the investigation.

According to the East Bay Times, the shooting occurred near Fay Elementary School in the Colina del Sol area shortly before 7 a.m. following a 911 call about a person seen with a firearm. Authorities said the man was in his 40s and allegedly had both a gun on the ground and a knife in his hand when officers arrived.

The incident began when a school staff member spotted the man on campus and noticed he appeared to be holding something. The staff member chased him off school grounds before contacting police, prompting the school to go into lockdown until authorities determined the area was secure.

Police response and confrontation

San Diego police said multiple officers responded after the emergency call and quickly encountered the man nearby on Orange Avenue. Officer Sarah Foster said the suspect fled as officers approached, leading to a short pursuit before he was cornered.

Lt. Travis Easter reported that officers attempted de-escalation, including deploying beanbag rounds and releasing a police dog. However, those tactics failed to subdue him, and officers ultimately opened fire, killing the suspect.

The suspect’s identity has not been released, and authorities have not confirmed whether he possessed a functioning firearm at the time he was fatally shot. No officers were injured during the encounter.

School lockdown and safety measures

A spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District said students were on campus early for a before-school program when the confrontation began. The lockdown was immediately triggered as a precautionary measure.

Staff members ensured all children and employees remained indoors while police surrounded the perimeter. By mid-morning, students were released from lockdown, and classes continued on a regular schedule.

Parents who arrived later in the day were informed that the incident unfolded outside the school grounds and that no students were ever in direct danger. The district emphasized communication with families to maintain community confidence.

State Department of Justice steps in

California’s Department of Justice confirmed it is taking over the review of the shooting. Under a 2021 state law, the DOJ must investigate police killings of individuals considered unarmed at the time of their death.

The agency’s dedicated shooting investigation team has been assigned, and once completed, the findings will be handed to its special prosecutions division for review. A central question in the case is whether the man was considered to be in possession of a “deadly weapon” during the fatal encounter.

State guidelines specify that real firearms, knives, and BB guns qualify as deadly weapons, while replica guns do not. Whether the initial report of a gun matched what was actually recovered remains unclear.

Broader context of police oversight

This case marks at least the second time the state DOJ has investigated a San Diego police shooting. It is still reviewing the death of John Ray Romero, who was killed in 2022 after allegedly holding what appeared to be a firearm to his head.

Additionally, just weeks ago, the DOJ assumed oversight of an Escondido police shooting in which a woman was killed following a car chase that ended in a crash on State Route 163. These cases have fueled ongoing debate about when officers should discharge their weapons.

Civil rights groups and community advocates continue to call for stronger accountability measures and question whether nonlethal methods receive sufficient prioritization. Officials have said each case is reviewed independently based on circumstances.

Community reaction and ongoing investigation

Residents of City Heights expressed concern about the proximity of the fatal encounter to an elementary school. Neighbors questioned how officers determined the man’s threat level and whether shooting him was necessary.

Police have asked witnesses in the area around 52nd Street and Orange Avenue to come forward with any information. Investigators are also reviewing body camera footage as part of the DOJ’s inquiry.

For now, details involving whether the suspect was armed with a gun or only the knife described by officers remain unresolved. Authorities said the investigation could stretch on for months before conclusions are released.