Jose Alfredo Castro Gutierrez, a 39-year-old Mexican national, was fatally shot by San Diego police on October 19, 2020, in the Mountain View neighborhood of San Diego, California. The incident occurred in the early morning hours after multiple 911 calls reported that Castro Gutierrez, who was staying as a houseguest, was behaving erratically and destroying property inside a residence.
One caller described him as possibly being under the influence of drugs, while another reported that his actions had caused a 16-year-old girl to lock herself in a room out of fear.
When officers arrived at the scene, Castro Gutierrez ran out of the home and charged toward them while clutching a black metal curtain rod. In response, one officer fired a beanbag shotgun, another deployed a stun gun, and Officer Isai Castillo discharged his service pistol, striking Castro Gutierrez. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that morning.
Castro Gutierrez's widow, Ana Ojeda, stated that her husband had been experiencing paranoia and may have been suffering from schizophrenia. She expressed that he had been asking for help and did not intend to harm anyone. Her attorney, Eugene Iredale, argued that the officers used excessive force and failed to properly communicate with someone in a mental health crisis. He emphasized that Castro Gutierrez's last words were "help me."
Following the shooting, the Mexican Consulate in San Diego demanded answers regarding the incident, and Castro Gutierrez's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city. The lawsuit alleged that Officer Castillo used excessive force and should have relied on non-lethal methods like the other officers present. In February 2024, the city of San Diego agreed to pay $800,000 to settle the lawsuit with Castro Gutierrez's family. His widow, Ana Ojeda, stated that the loss of her husband had devastated their family and called for improved police training in crisis intervention to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The case drew attention to concerns about law enforcement's handling of individuals experiencing mental health crises. The Mexican government closely monitored the case and urged an impartial investigation, emphasizing the need for actions to prevent excessive use of force in similar situations.
