The family condemns the shooting by the San Diego police of their young brother – San Diego Union -Tribune

Family members said their younger brother had been shot by San Diego police on Friday, condemning his murder as unfair and contesting the authorities he was armed.

The police shot the man, who had been locked in a car during a 40 -minute dead end with the police in the Stockton district because they thought he had pointed out a weapon on them. The authorities initially said they had found a black handgun in the car, but the investigators later said they learned that it was in fact a BB pistol.

Two brothers and sisters identified their younger brother, Kevin Garcia, like the one who was killed by the police. Kevin was 19 years old, said his 23 -year -old sister, Yazmyn Garcia, and his 24 -year -old brother Miguel Garcia. The authorities described the person who was killed as a man in their twenties.

On Sunday, through a translator, Yazmyn said that she had spoken with the woman who was in the car with Kevin, and she told Yazmyn that he had no weapon in the car.

Yazmyn said that he had not been told where Kevin’s body was, and she was not contacted by the authorities. All she wants to know, she said, is where her brother is so that she can see him. The family wishes to bring their body back to its country of original Mexico to be buried, added Yazmyn.

Sheriff deputies, who investigate the shooting according to the county protocol, said on Sunday morning that they still do not publish the name of the deceased man because his relatives had not yet been informed. At 6 p.m., they had not responded to requests for information on investigation or declarations of the Garcia family.

The Friday incident started around 10 a.m. when a pedestrian reported a San Diego police sergeant, saying that they had seen a man pointing a black handgun on another person near the K and 31st street intersection, said Lieutenant of Sheriff Juan Márquez.

The police found a man corresponding to the description of the possible shooter seated in a car parked in the street, next to the Bethel Amel church, with a woman in the passenger seat, according to the deputies.

Police began to negotiate with them and asked them to leave the car, authorities said; The woman came out but the man refused. Police called SWAT team members, then later pulled pepper balls in the car’s open window, and the man has always refused to leave, the authorities said.

The police allegedly allegedly saw the man pointing what looked like a handgun through the car window, and the police fired several shots in the car, hitting the man. He was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Yazmyn described Kevin as a loving and attentive person with his family and friends, “a person with a beautiful heart”. She added in an article on social networks that her brother had psychological problems, including depression and drug use, and the police should have treated it differently.

Sunday afternoon, about three dozen people gathered next to Bethel Amel Church to protest against the shooting. The participants exhibited candles, balloons, flowers, baseball caps, bottles, a roller board and a pair of red, blue and silver Nikes, next to a sign that said: “We love you smiling, gone but never forgotten.”

The demonstrators kept signs saying “Justicia”, “Am I next?” And “no al raco”. In the background, Yazmyn cried in Miguel’s arms.

Originally published: April 6, 2025 at 6:02 p.m.