Wellness Check Turned Shootout

*WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

From the San Diego DA’s office:

The District Attorney’s office has completed its review of a violent incident last year in which two San Diego police officers were shot, officers were forced to scramble for cover and return fire, and the suspect eventually took his own life. On June 23, 2018, San Diego Police officers were called to a condominium unit in the College area to investigate a violent disturbance. Officers smelled smoke coming from the condo and called firefighters to assess the situation. Police knocked on the door for more than 20 minutes but got no response. To ensure there was no fire danger, fire personnel forced entry into the home.

Joe Darwish, 28, immediately opened fire on police and fire officials with a large caliber weapon, striking one police officer in the back. Two officers returned fire while backing away from the residence, providing cover for the wounded officer. The officer who had been shot fell onto his back and was initially unable to move. After several seconds, he managed to roll onto his stomach and was able to crawl down the hallway in an attempt to get out of the line of fire.

During the ensuing gun battle, a second police officer was shot by Darwish. Darwish fired at least twenty-two shots at police. Eventually, the shooting stopped and Darwish was found dead from a self- inflicted gunshot wound to his head. He had also been struck in the arm and face from one of the officers’ shotgun fire. The San Diego Medical Examiner ruled Darwish’s death a suicide.

“This harrowing incident shows just how quickly a routine call for service can turn deadly for police officers who suddenly found themselves in the line of fire, trying to protect their wounded fellow officers and keep the shooter from endangering members of the public,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “It’s a tribute to these officers’ bravery and quick response that the gunman didn’t injure more people or kill the officers and firefighters involved.”
Darwish was wearing a bullet-proof vest and was armed with a homemade assault weapon and a homemade 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Neither weapon had a serial number and the guns were not registered.

After a thorough review, the District Attorney’s Office determined officers were justified in using deadly force to defend against Darwish’s attempts to kill them and others. Both officers who were shot survived their injuries.

As part of its finding, the DA’s Office released about seven minutes of body-worn camera video evidence of the incident to the media, as well as a detailed letter of its review.
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44 thoughts on “Wellness Check Turned Shootout

  1. Thanks guys, the premier was fun to hang out with you for a bit. I didn't monetize this one because of the graphic nature but you can help support my work by trying out Black Rifle Coffee for 20% off with code "mikethecop": http://www.blackriflecoffee.com They are huge supporters of law enforcement and recently donated $5,000 to our non-profit Humanizing the Badge. Good coffee supporting good causes.

  2. How would u react if u wake up to door being busted through with no warning. This person was only protecting their family, that’s all. This is the reason why no knock warrants are no longer allowed. If Im asleep with my family and someone is busting through my door i am going to protect what’s mine.

  3. Wonder what would have happened if mental health professionals had shown up to this scene, instead of cops and firefighters breaking down a guys door?

  4. offciers were to blame here, they broke into a home ,no warrant, no nothing, the man had every right to defend his home, they should have called, and then if no answer knocked on the door, he still has a 4th amendment right, that means they cannot just break in

  5. Mike im having a problem having anyone hear me bc of the boys in blue code..i have all the proof i was outside..they searched my home…pulled a gun on my disabled daughter and they illegally searched my home seized my husbands legal registered guns…they detained me and they had no proof i even called and have proof i couldnt… Please help

  6. This is why they shouldn’t have broken into the house. The us Supreme Court has ruled that you can defend yourself again unlawful things cops can do.

  7. Holy shit! How long does it take to get a fucking rifle up there?!?!?!? They are police, right?

    They might be professional but they are HIGHLY inefficient in these incidents that are not too uncommon these days.

  8. You call that a wellness check? You forced your way into someone's home. Obviously he was sane enough to hold fire until someone broke down his door.

    Great job on dealing with the mentality challenged.. You failed.

  9. Wtf, Talk about leave a man behind. They should’ve been giving suppressive fire until both men broke out. Rifle or not you have fucking pistols with 4 mags each most likely.

  10. 🙄All the cops had to do was hit Square Button for Breach, everything would have went slow motion, giving them the police at least 8 seconds to shoot the criminal, before he could shoot back😃

  11. You’d think someone would let the cops into their apartment when they heard them outside in the hall…they were probably to terrified though

  12. So thankful both officers and fire made it home from this. Knowing how bad this could have ended is chilling. I thank these officers and the fire rescue for a great job and selflessly risking their lives to keep others safe.

  13. Hey Mike, do you get strange looks from your neighbors when walking around filming? Or are they just all use to it now. LOL

  14. I don't agree with the guys behavior, but the first minutes of the situation would provide more context. What did the officers say? Why did they have to break into the apartment? Is it me of did the guy wait till the firefighter moved, and the cops tried to step in?

  15. It's wired how people shoot when their house is broken into. Duh, don't break into people's houses. Now they probably have to go kill that guy.

  16. But he is a felon, how does he have a gun? Isn't that illegal…Wait, what do you mean criminals don't obey the law? And in Cali, there are about a million gun laws, it's why I moved to AZ.

  17. The takeaway from this and veteran first responders know this there is no such thing as a routine call/traffic stop be professional , be polite, but have a plan to kill anyone you contact. That sounds harsh but it's just a fact of the job and simple officer safety. 99% of you will never have to go to step 3 but that 1% step 3 is the difference between driving home at the end of your shift and being carried to your grave by 6 of your coworkers. Staight up!

  18. I didn’t hear them announce themselves as police before busting in the door. Who wouldn’t be ready to shoot if all you hear on the inside is someone breaking in?

  19. The kind of laws the state has passed in recent years. Where constitutional rights are getting whipped away by an administrative pen in the eyes of the public. We may be seeing a lot more of these situations. (That scene in "5th Element" might not be so bizarre) Something is going to give and the cops are caught between a lot, makes me sad.

  20. "homemade assault weapon and a homemade 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Neither weapon had a serial number and the guns were not registered."

    OH MY GOD. THE MAD MAN ACTUALLY FOLLOWING A RIGHT.

  21. As a citizen who trains with our local PD, I can testify that ONLY a trained mental health professional can effectively deal with some of these situations. I went through 1 day of a 5-day LEO class on the subject of mental health in the field, and officers are, at best, trained to be more careful.

  22. Mike, Thank you for sharing things like this, I have been in a fire fight and i know that people so often forget that this is the type of stuff have to deal with and go through. It changes people, Cops shouldn’t have to deal with this like this i mean often it is nothing short of a battlefield and It could be lessened I know if we put work in the right areas, mental health, gangs are massive and now this “Fu** the police” mentality that the media is helping push

  23. NEED ROBOT TO RAM DOOR AND SEND IN 3 DOGS 🐕 🇺🇸🔹🇺🇸🔹🇺🇸🔹🇺🇸
    Know when to back up 🔹

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