SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The San Diego Police Department Sunday afternoon publicly identified the two officers who fatally shot a man in downtown's Gaslamp district.
The department said they were Officer Scott Thompson, a 30-year veteran, and Officer Gregory Lindstrom, a 25- year veteran of the force.
On Oct. 20, the SDPD motor officers attempted to make contact with Lamontez Jones, 39, shortly after 2 p.m., when the man ran into traffic in the 500 block of F Street, near Horton Plaza. Jones ran from the officers who followed the man on their SDPD motorcycles, according to the department.
See related story: [Police Chief Zimmerman defends officers in deadly OIS]
Jones then pulled a large-caliber replica handgun from his backpack near Sixth Avenue and F Street and pointed it at one of the officers. The officers gave Jones several verbal commands to drop the weapon, according to SDPD.
When Jones didn't comply, Thompson and Lindstrom shot him. After being hit with a bullet, Jones fell to ground, picked up the fake firearms and pointed it again at the officers, according to SDPD. Thompson and Lindstrom then both shot Jones in the upper body.
Jones was later transported to UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest where he later died.
The fake weapon used by Jones was recovered at the scene by investigators.
The fatal incident was publicly criticized last week when it was revealed Thompson and Lindstrom failed to turn on their department-issued body-worn cameras before making contact with Jones. Police Chief Shelly Zimmerman later defended the actions of the two officers and said the incident was rapidly evolving and they acted to protect themselves and the public.
The shooting was the second fatal SDPD shooting in six months that was not recorded by department-issued cameras. Zimmerman said the motorcycle
officers did not violate the camera policy during the violent encounter, since the rule explicitly states that safety concerns trump use of the device.