Mexican authorities have demanded a thorough investigation into a San Diego police shooting that killed a 20-year-old man Friday.
Kevin García Gonzalez, a San Diego resident, was shot by police following a 40-minute standoff in the Stockton neighborhood. Investigators alleged that the man pointed what appeared to be a handgun out of a vehicle, at which point officers fired their weapons.
Authorities initially claimed that they had found a handgun in the vehicle but later said it was a BB gun resembling a revolver.
Mexico, through its Consulate General in San Diego, has called on U.S. authorities “to ensure that justice is served in this case and that the human rights of our nationals in the United States are upheld,” officials said in a news release posted on social media late Monday.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the incident, the shooting occurred after a pedestrian flagged down an officer and reported seeing a man point a gun at another person near K and 31st streets.
Several officers responded to the scene and found a person matching the man’s description in a vehicle parked near Bethel AME church with a female enger.
Officers attempted to get the man to exit the car, but he refused, sheriff’s officials said. The female enger exited the car and surrendered to officers.
Police continued to negotiate with the man as SWAT team arrived. Officers fired pepper balls into the vehicle, but the man still did not exit.
Around 10:50 a.m., sheriff’s officials alleged that the man pointed what appeared to be a handgun out of the vehicle’s window.
Six police officers, including one sergeant, fired at the man.
The man was pulled from the vehicle and transported to a hospital, where he died.
Officials said the consulate has ed the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to coordinate the transfer of his remains to relatives. The family has said they wish to send his body to the Mexican state of Guerrero, where Garcia’s mother lives.
The consulate said it has provided legal assistance to García’s family.
“The Mexican Foreign Ministry reaffirms that the assistance and protection of Mexicans abroad is a top priority for the Mexican government,” the consulate said. “It reiterates its commitment to accompany and the family throughout the process.”
In a press conference Monday, Guerrero Gov. Evelyn Salgado addressed García’s case, and state officials said they would help the family.
In a release, Mexican officials said they demanded a thorough investigation into the shooting but did not allege any wrongdoing by officers.
The incident is under investigation by the sheriff’s office, per a county policy that prevents agencies from investigating their own shootings, and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is also reviewing the shooting.
The officers involved were identified Wednesday as Michael Hagen, Diego Arellanes, Ruben Berton and Fernando Fernandez, who have been on the department for five to eight years. Sergeant Edward Laurendeau, a 17-year veteran, and Acting Sergeant Zane Sisneros, a 10-year veteran, also fired their weapons.
At a vigil for García held Sunday near the church, attendees held signs saying “Justicia,” “Am I next? Hands Up! Don’t Shoot!” and “Justice for Kevin! No al Racismo.”
Through a translator, García’s sister, Yazmyn, 23, said she had not been told where her brother’s body was and had not been ed by authorities.
Yazmyn said she had spoken to the female enger of the vehicle, who told her that Kevin did not have a gun in the vehicle.
In a social media post, Yazmyn said her brother was a “beautiful person” and added that he had struggled with depression and drug use.
