SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – San Diego police are investigating a deputy-involved shooting in the Bankers Hill area that left a man dead Friday morning.
According to SDPD Lt. Mike Holden, the incident happened shortly at 7:50 a.m. in the 2000 block of 2nd Avenue, near Grape Street.
Holden said two deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's Court Services unit arrived at an apartment to serve an eviction notice, and after the deputies informed the home's occupant of their presence, the man responded by telling deputies he would arm himself with a handgun if they entered.
When deputies entered the apartment's living room, SDPD said the man ran into his bedroom and returned holding what deputies believed to be a semi-automatic handgun.
After moving the handgun in their direction, police said the two deputies opened fire on the man. The suspect retreated back into his bedroom.
Deputies followed the suspect to his bedroom to find him suffering from several gunshot wounds. Medical aid was given to the man before paramedics arrived, SDPD said.
The occupant -- identified only as a 48-year-old black man -- was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Holden said the two deputies were not injured in the incident, which is being investigated by SDPD's Homicide Unit. No one else was inside the apartment at the time of the shooting, Holden said.
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A stretch of 2nd Avenue to Grape Street was shut down due to the investigation, which Holden said may last through the rest of the day.
Holden said detectives are interviewing witnesses.
During a search of the man's home, SDPD said a semi-automatic handgun replica had been found inside the man's bedroom. The replica was found to be an airsoft-style pistol, according to SDPD.
The sheriff's Court Services Bureau is responsible for providing security at San Diego County courthouses, but deputies in the bureau's civil division also are responsible for "restraining orders, evictions, wage garnishments, bank levies, summons, claims, real and personal property levies and sales," according to the sheriff's website.
The deputies involved are a 17-year veteran and nine-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department, SDPD said.
