San Diego Police Officer Involved Shooting | Body Cam Footage | March 30, 2022

The San Diego Police Department released body-camera footage showing an officer shoot a San Carlos man who allegedly pointed a BB pistol toward officers and told them to shoot him.

SDPD Sgt. Zachary Pfannenstiel opened fire on 60-year-old Andrew Farnham outside of Farnham's home on Bonnie View Drive on the afternoon of March 30. Farnham died at a hospital the following day.

The events that led to the deadly law enforcement gunfire began shortly after 4 p.m., when Farnham, posing as his 91-year-old father, made a 911 call to report that "his son" -- referring to himself -- had a gun and was "waving it around."

Arriving in the neighborhood near Lake Murray, officers found Farnham's father outside the home, took him into protective custody and began to devise a plan to safely detain the suspect, SDPD Lt. Andra Brown said.

A short time later, as police sought to get more specific information about the situation from the elder man, the suspect walked into his open garage, carrying what appeared to be a firearm, Brown said.

Farnham ignored repeated orders to drop the gun and repeatedly said "shoot me." Footage released by SDPD Monday shows Farnham raise the gun in the air. SDPD said Farnham pointed the gun at officers just before Sgt. Pfannenstiel fired three shots from the cover of a police SUV at the bottom of the driveway.

Farnham collapsed onto the floor of his garage next to a parked car. Though gravely wounded, Farnham continued to hold on to the gun while writhing around on the ground. Officers eventually sent in a service dog whose bites forced the suspect to let go of the weapon, which investigators subsequently determined was a BB gun, according to SDPD.

Farnham was taken to the hospital and died the next day, SDPD said.

Pfannenstiel is a 14-year SDPD veteran.

SDPD's Homicide Unit is investigating the incident, and their investigation will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, SDPD's Internal Affairs Unit and Shooting Review Board, and the Commission on Police Practices. The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office will also monitor SDPD's investigation.

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