The San Diego Police Department has released a video of a fatal shooting of a burglary suspect in August who allegedly broke into a Point Loma home and was killed by officers when he came out of the front door holding a gun in his hand.
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Police officials released the critical incident video, which is 9 minutes and 12 seconds long, on Friday evening.
Three officers opened fire at Erik Simon Sanders, 24, of Alpine on Aug. 25 as he exited the home on Nipoma Street near Poinsettia Drive after a standoff with SWAT officers that lasted more than three hours, authorities said.
Police had initially responded to the home around 4:40 p.m. that day for a welfare check, a call that was changed to a residential burglary in progress.
Neighbors are seen on the video telling police that Sanders had approached them, said people were trying to kill him and asked them to call police.
One neighbor tells an officer that he saw the man come out of the house with a knife in one hand and a wine bottle in the other and said he “begged him” to call 911 before he re-entered the home.
A second neighbor said he saw the man running from his backyard. He said the man told him: “Help me, help me, someone’s trying to kill me. Call the police.” The neighbor said he told the man he’d call the police, and then he went into his own home and locked all the doors.
Police contacted the homeowner, who told them there were firearms inside the home and that no one had permission to be inside. Because of the potential danger, SWAT officers were sent to the home and tried to resolve the situation using “tactical methods,” including using flashbang explosive devices and calling into the home.
Due to the possibility that Sanders was armed with a firearm, police SWAT officers responded and attempted to contact him.
“SWAT officers used a loudspeaker to direct Sanders to exit the residence with his hands up, but he did not respond,” the video says. “Officers attempted to make contact with Sanders inside the home for several hours, with no response from Sanders.”
Gunfire was heard coming from the home for about three minutes while the SWAT team discussed its options. The video shows officers taking cover behind an armored vehicle as the shots ring out.
They can be heard discussing the situation, but audio is redacted to cover tactical moves. Dogs are barking in the background. The video also included footage from a drone that was deployed inside the house.
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The drone was outside a closed door when a round was fired through it.
About three minutes after police heard gunfire inside the home, Sanders is shown coming out a room and moving toward the front door. The video also shows a still photo of a gun Sanders was holding.
“He’s coming to the front door with a gun in his hand,” an officer can be heard saying on the video. As Sanders exits the home, a barrage of gunfire can be heard, and then a pause.
A voice is heard saying, “He’s still moving, he’s still moving,” and then three more shots ring out.
“(Do you) see where the gun’s at?” someone asks on one of the body-worn cameras. An officer replies: “It is still in his hand … but he’s down.”
After the shooting, paramedics responded. Sanders could not be revived and he died around 9:40 p.m. No police officers were injured.
Sheriff’s officials earlier identified the police officers who discharged their weapons as Officer Christopher Lingenhol, Officer David Speck and Officer Jose Velasquez.
Lingenhol has been with the department for 12 years and is assigned to patrol at the Mid-City Division. Speck has been with the department for 30 years and is assigned to Special Operations/SWAT. Velasquez has been with the department for nine years and is assigned to patrol at the Central Division.
Lingenhol and Velasquez are also members of the department’s SWAT Primary Response Team.
Lingerhol was previously involved in a fatal police shooting in March 2025 that also involved a second police sniper, Officer Brandon Jordan. The two fatally shot 59-year-old Eric Kulakow during a standoff in Miramar Ranch North. That shooting came after police responded to a 911 call of a man reportedly pointing a gun at people near Angelique Street and Cypress Canyon Road south of the Scripps Parkway.
Per a countywide agreement, the sheriff’s homicide team is conducting the investigation. Once the unit concludes its investigation, the case will be submitted to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for review to determine whether the involved officers bear any criminal liability.
San Diego police officials will also conduct an administrative review of the shooting.
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City News Service contributed to this report.
