Man Fatally Shot By Sheriff's Deputy In National City Identified

NATIONAL CITY, CA — Authorities Wednesday publicly identified the 46-year-old man fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy during a confrontation at a car dealership near Naval Base San Diego.

Gene Stewart of Lakeside is believed to have prompted Detective Douglas Akers to shoot him by firing a gun at the lawman at the National City auto lot, according to the San Diego Police Department, which investigates uses of lethal force by San Diego County Sheriff's Office personnel under terms of a countywide agreement designed to prevent conflicts of interest.

The events that led to the deadly encounter began shortly before 1:30 p.m. Friday, when deputies stopped a white Acura occupied by two men and a woman in the 200 block of Mile of Cars Way, SDPD Lt. Lou Maggi said.

After the driver of the car pulled over, Stewart jumped out of the front passenger seat and ran off, Maggi said.

As deputies searched the area for Stewart, a witness flagged them down and reporting seeing a man run onto the grounds of a nearby Dodge dealership and get into a tow truck parked there, according to Maggi.

Along with a National City Police Department officer, Akers approached the truck and ordered Stewart to surrender. At that point, Stewart apparently opened fire in Akers' direction, shattering a window on the tow truck and prompting the detective to shoot him, Maggi said.

Investigators found a gun near Stewart's body, according to police.

Akers, who has been with the sheriff's office for about 35 years, was treated at a hospital for minor cuts caused by flying glass shards from the shattered window, Maggi said.

— City News Service