Mexico calls for comprehensive investigation into San Diego police shooting involving a teenager.

Mexican authorities are urging a comprehensive investigation into a recent police shooting in San Diego that resulted in the fatality of a 19-year-old man. Kevin García, a resident of Oaxaca, Mexico, was shot by San Diego police during a tense standoff on Friday in the Stockton neighborhood, following a series of events that began when a pedestrian alerted authorities about a man allegedly pointing a firearm at another individual.

According to preliminary reports from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to the scene and located García inside a vehicle near Bethel AME Church, accompanied by a female passenger. Law enforcement attempted to persuade him to exit the vehicle peacefully; however, he refused to comply. The female passenger eventually surrendered to the officers.

As negotiations continued, a SWAT team was deployed to the scene. Authorities reportedly deployed pepper balls into the vehicle in an effort to compel García to exit. Around 10:50 a.m., officials claimed that García pointed what appeared to be a handgun from the window of the car, prompting six police officers, including a sergeant, to discharge their weapons.

García was subsequently pulled from the vehicle and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. While initial reports indicated a handgun was recovered at the scene, subsequent investigations revealed that it was a BB gun.

In response to the incident, the Mexican Consulate General in San Diego has called upon U.S. officials to ensure that justice is served and the human rights of Mexican nationals within the United States are upheld. The consulate has reached out to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to facilitate the transfer of García’s remains to his family, who wish to have his body returned to Guerrero, where his mother resides. Legal assistance has been extended to García’s family, emphasizing the Mexican government’s commitment to supporting its citizens abroad.

Officials in Mexico have demanded a thorough investigation of the shooting, however, they have not accused law enforcement of wrongdoing at this stage. Currently, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, as mandated by local policy prohibiting agencies from examining their own shooting incidents. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is also reviewing the case.

Community members gathered to mourn García during a vigil held near the church, expressing their calls for justice with placards labeled “Justicia” and “Justice for Kevin! No al Racismo.” Family members conveyed their grief and concern, with García’s sister alleging that Kevin did not possess a weapon at the time of the incident. This situation has sparked significant dialogue surrounding police conduct and community relations.