By Christian Martinez
The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO — San Diego police released footage Wednesday of the fatal shooting of a man by police snipers in Scripps Ranch.
Erick Kulakow, 59, was shot and killed on March 25 on Angelique Street after police received a report of a man brandishing a gun at workers in the neighborhood.
The video released shows footage from a police helicopter of Kulakow standing barefoot in the driveway of a home holding a gun and wearing ear coverings.
“He does have a 1911 (pistol) or semiauto in his hand right now pointed up towards the air — not at us, just the air right now,” an officer’s voice can be heard saying.
An Orkin pest control worker can be seen hiding behind his work truck across the street from where Kulakow is standing.
According to police, the helicopter crew used its public address system to give Kulakow demands to drop the gun. He did not comply, police officials said.
The Orkin worker can be seen scrambling into the back of his vehicle through a small window.
Two SWAT officers with rifles positioned themselves nearby as a police response team gathered on an adjacent street, police said.
According to police, Kulakow stood on the driveway holding the gun for approximately 45 minutes after he was spotted by the helicopter crew.
Kulakow can be seen walking to the end of his street toward Angelique Street and pointing the gun at the police response team.
Both SWAT officers fired their weapons, but Kulakow was only struck once, police officials said.
Body-worn camera footage from the SWAT officers shows the moments they fired their weapons at Kulakow.
In the helicopter footage, which blurs Kulakow’s body, the man can be seen falling to the ground after pointing the gun toward the response team.
Kulakow was pronounced dead at the scene.
A loaded handgun was allegedly recovered at the scene.
San Diego police identified the SWAT officers who fired their weapons as Brandon Jordan, a 17-year department veteran, and Chris Lingenhol, a 10-year department veteran.
The incident is under investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office under a county policy that bars law enforcement agencies from investigating their own shootings.
The incident will also be reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office.
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