Deputy-Involved Shooting in Lakeside
December 13, 2025 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Police Department officials report that on Wednesday, 
December 10, 2025, at approximately 10:28 a.m., the Lakeside Fire Department received a call to evaluate a 30-year-old male possibly experiencing an overdose at a residence on the 9200 block of Briette Place in Lakeside. The Lakeside Fire Department requested San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputies also respond. A responding deputy located the male on an embankment near the 13000 block of Pinkard Way.
While the deputy was speaking with the male, he told the deputy he had a firearm. The man then concealed both hands behind his rear waistband as the deputy provided instructions to him. The man did not comply and maintained his hands concealed at his rear waistband as the deputy repeatedly provided instruction. Suddenly, the man pulled his hands from his rear waist band, extended his arms out, with hands together and pointed toward the deputy. The deputy fired one round from his service weapon at the male, missing him. The male ran from the deputy and was apprehended by other responding deputies’ moments later.
The firearm the suspect claimed to possess was not located at the scene.
The man was transported to Sharp Grossmont Hospital for evaluation due to the previously mentioned possible overdose at the location. He is in stable condition. While inside the ambulance and on the way to the hospital the male kicked a medic.
The deputy who fired his weapon has been employed by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office for approximately 2 years. The deputy was equipped with a body worn camera, which was activated during this incident.
The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Eric Rails. Rails faces charges of deterring a peace officer from performing his duty and assaulting an emergency personnel member.
San Diego Police Homicide Detectives were called to investigate per the countywide memorandum of understanding regarding officer-involved shootings.
Officer-involved shooting investigations are extremely thorough, as is the review process. When Homicide completes its investigation, it will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the officer bears any criminal liability for their actions. The San Diego County Sheriffs Office will conduct an administrative investigation into the deputy's discharge of his service weapon. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office will also be monitoring the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
The San Diego Police Department is conducting the investigation per a Countywide Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022: https://www.sdsheriff.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1084.
Source: San Diego Police Department
