SDPD ICD - 423 E Street, San Diego Update
January 30, 2025 – San Diego County Sheriff's Office officials report that on January 25, 2025, at approximately 8:15 
p.m., officers from the San Diego Police Department's Central Division responded to a reported incident involving a violent male outside the Star Bar. The individual had been removed by security following a disturbance inside the premises and resorted to biting a security guard on the arm during the altercation.
Upon arrival at 8:18 p.m., a San Diego Police Officer found the security guard and another individual restraining the man on the ground as he continued to struggle. The officer was quickly able to handcuff the man. Despite being handcuffed, the man continued to struggle with the officer. While waiting for other officers to arrive, the first officer requested San Diego Fire Department (SDFD) come to the scene to evaluate the individual.
An additional officer arrived shortly thereafter, helping to manage the situation by securing the man's legs. The SDFD arrived on the scene by 8:26 p.m., but medics soon discovered the man was unresponsive and without a pulse. Life saving measures were swiftly initiated, and he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he sadly passed away.
An autopsy conducted by the Medical Examiner’s Office on January 27, 2025, has yet to determine the cause and manner of death, with further investigation still ongoing.
The officers involved in this in-custody death have been identified as Officer Jacob Phipps and Officer Noah McLemore. Both officers have been employed by the San Diego Police Department for over four and a half years and are assigned to Central Division Patrol.
The suspect has been identified as 40-year-old Gabriel Jesus Garza, from San Diego.
Related: San Diego County Sheriff Reports an In-Custody Death Occurred During an Arrest Outside the Star Bar
In adherence to the Countywide Memorandum of Understanding, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit is leading the investigation into the circumstances of this in-custody death. The investigation is ongoing, with detectives actively collecting evidence, conducting witness interviews, and analyzing the specific events that transpired.
The process for reviewing in-custody deaths is designed to be meticulous, ensuring accountability and transparency. Upon the conclusion of the Homicide Unit's investigation, the case will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to evaluate any potential criminal liability of the officers involved. Concurrently, the San Diego Police Department will undertake an administrative review of the incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Office
Related: San Diego County Sheriff Reports an In-Custody Death Occurred During an Arrest Outside the Star Bar
