Update - SDPD OIS – 4000 block of 30th Street, in North Park
September 23, 2026 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the Homicide Unit responded to an 
officer-involved shooting that occurred on the morning of September 16, 2026, in the 4000 block of 30th Street in the City of San Diego.
At approximately 9:00 a.m., San Diego Police Department officers were dispatched to a vandalism call. The reporting party stated that a man was vandalizing vehicles with a metal rod near the intersection of El Cajon Boulevard and Oregon Street. Upon arrival, officers attempted to contact a man matching the description. The man immediately fled on foot and entered a business in the 4000 block of 30th Street, refusing to surrender. He was observed armed with an incendiary device.
Due to the significant dangers posed, officers attempted to negotiate with the man, but he refused to exit. A K‑9 was deployed, and the suspect ignited the device, setting the K‑9 on fire. The man then moved toward the front door with the incendiary device, at which point an officer-involved shooting occurred. One officer fired multiple rounds, striking the suspect. Officers immediately rendered lifesaving aid. Paramedics responded, and the man was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased just before 12:00 p.m.
Three San Diego Police Department officers and one K‑9 were injured during the incident. The officers sustained burns to their hands and were treated at a local hospital before being released. The K‑9 also suffered burn injuries and received treatment at a local veterinary hospital.
The decedent has been identified as 33-year-old Saul Sandoval Chavez. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office extends our condolences to his family and all those affected by his passing.
The officer who discharged his weapon has been identified as Officer Kyle Lehr. Officer Lehr has been with the San Diego Police Department for ten years and is assigned to the Canine Unit.
Per the Countywide Memorandum of Understanding, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit responded and is conducting the investigation into the officer‑involved shooting. The motivation and circumstances leading up to the incident remain under investigation. Detectives are collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and evaluating all aspects of the event.
The review process for officer-involved shootings is comprehensive. When the Homicide Unit completes its investigation, the case will be submitted to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the involved officer bears any criminal liability. The San Diego Police Department will also conduct an administrative review of the officer’s discharge of the firearm.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit at (858) 285‑6330. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (888) 580‑8477.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office