The Sheriff’s Office on Friday released video of two deputies fatally shooting a 72-year-old man after entering his Alpine home to check on his welfare earlier this month.
Until now, authorities had released little about the Nov. 5 incident after the state’s Department of Justice took over the investigation under a law requiring it to step in when authorities fatally shoot a person who did not have a deadly weapon.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the man who died had been holding what appeared to be a gun during the incident. It was later determined to be a replica gun, which is not considered a deadly weapon.
Text in the edited video says that deputies Jordi Herrera and Christopher Kleppe had gone to the Kyrsten Terrace Court home after a woman called 911 just after 6:30 p.m., concerned for the man’s welfare after she knocked on his unlocked door and received no answer.
The video includes deputies’ body-worn camera footage, showing them enter the dark home, fearing the resident could be down. As they walk about, the two repeatedly identify themselves as deputies and ask if anyone is in the home.
Body-worn camera footage shows what appears to be a handgun in 72-year-old Robert Liddell’s hands just before San Diego County Sheriff’s Office deputies shoot him. (San Diego County Sheriff’s Office)
Less than a minute later, the resident, identified as 72-year-old Robert Liddell, appears at the end of a dark hall, carrying what appeared to be a handgun. Someone is heard saying, “Get the (expletive) out.”
The deputy nearest the man retreats, and both deputies order the man to drop the weapon, the video shows.
“Hey, hey, drop-drop it!” Kleppe yells at Liddell in the video. “We’re the Sheriff’s Department … Sir, your neighbor called!”
The deputies open fire seconds later, the video shows.
Liddell falls to the hardwood floor, and Kleppe moves in to kick the gun away from him, the video shows. The deputies begin performing medical aid until paramedics arrive.
Liddell was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Herrera and Kleppe are both assigned to the Alpine sheriff’s station. They have been employed by the department for three and six years, respectively. As is done in all deputy-involved shootings, the two have been placed on administrative assignment until they are cleared for duty, investigators said.
The case marks at least the third time the state DOJ has investigated a shooting involving San Diego County law enforcement agencies. Neither of the other investigations has been completed.