Editor’s note: The contents of this article discuss suicide. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, contact the San Diego Access & Crisis Line 1-888-724-7240.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Authorities have publicly released video footage of the events leading up to a fatal police shooting in Ocean Beach late last month.
The video, released on Monday, showed officers from the San Diego Police Department responding to a call reporting a man standing in the street and blocking traffic in the 4400 block of Coronado Avenue.
The department received the call at 9:10 a.m. on May 31.
According to police, the man, identified as Jacob Epple, 32, was telling random people he wanted to harm himself.
Body-worn camera footage showed Officer Miranda confronting Epple, who was seen driving a black sedan.
Miranda repeatedly ordered Epple to get out of the vehicle. However, Epple drove away, leading Miranda on a pursuit through residential streets before he got involved in a crash at Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Pescadero Drive.
Miranda then got out of his patrol car with a less-lethal Taser. Epple approached him with a knife before he got back in his car and drove southbound on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, police said.
The pursuit ended when Epple’s car was involved in a second collision at the intersection of Ebers Street and Bermuda Avenue.
Multiple San Diego Police officers arrived to the scene of the crash, two of whom were deployed with Tasers, the department stated. Epple proceeded to approach Miranda while armed with a knife.
Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, Epple did not comply and continued to make concerning statements, according to police. Officers used their Tasers on Epple, but they had minimal effect.
Epple then got back inside his car while holding the knife to his neck before he exited and approached Miranda.
The video showed Miranda discharged his service weapon in response, striking Epple.
Officers provided aid until paramedics arrived. Epple was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. No officers were injured during the incident.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit is investigating the officer-involved shooting, the findings of which will then be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the officers bear any criminal liability for their actions.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will also monitor the investigation. Meanwhile, SDPD’s Internal Affairs Unit will investigate whether the officers violated any department policies.
The shooting review board will evaluate the officers’ tactics during the incident response.
