Body-worn camera footage released by the San Diego police on Tuesday shows a confrontation between officers and an armed man who had allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend. The incident took place last week in City Heights. While the woman survived her injuries, the ex-boyfriend, identified as Imanol Aparicio, tragically died.
The video shows that Sgt. Matthew Ruggiero, Officer Jeremy Avalos, and Officer Jonah Tafoya all discharged their weapons during the encounter with Aparicio. The officers had been with the department since 2005, 2019, and 2020, respectively.
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According to investigators, the shooting occurred after the officers witnessed Aparicio reaching for a gun in his waistband. The officers opened fire a second time after the man pointed the gun at them while he was wounded on the ground.
Due to a reciprocal agreement between the San Diego Police and the county Sheriff’s Department, the latter is handling the investigation. This arrangement ensures that neither department investigates its own officers or deputies when they are involved in a shooting.
The edited video, which includes text descriptions from the Police Department, crime scene photographs, and footage from one of the officers’ body cameras, shows the sequence of events. The video focuses on the moment when the officers first confronted Aparicio on Wightman Street. All three officers had their cameras recording at the time, and the videos provide similar angles of the shooting.
The video begins with an audio recording of a call to 911 dispatchers made by the victim’s sister. Officers responded swiftly and found the victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Within 30 minutes of the incident, Aparicio was located on Wightman Street, and the encounter with the officers ensued.
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The footage shows the officers approaching Aparicio, who initially raises his hands before backing away. He then turns and runs, prompting the officers to chase him. As Aparicio reaches for his waistband, the officers open fire, shooting multiple rounds. Aparicio is seen falling to the ground.
An investigation revealed that Aparicio was carrying a loaded unregistered “ghost gun” made from a parts kit. While on the ground, he still had the firearm in his hand and pointed it in the direction of the officers, leading them to open fire again.
The San Diego Police Department will conduct an internal administrative investigation, and the District Attorney’s Office will review the case for any potential criminal liability. The incident will also be reviewed by the Commission on Police Practices.
