Investigators identified Friday the alleged assailant and off-duty officer involved in an altercation that led to a fatal shooting last week on Fiesta Island.
San Diego Community College District Officer Victor Bocaya shot and killed Brian Maloney III, 41, after Maloney allegedly yelled at Bocaya and then began stabbing the officer on Oct. 2, San Diego police homicide Lt. Jud Campbell said.
Bocaya has been with campus police for 25 years. Campbell said because the officer showed his badge to Bocaya before the stabbing and shooting took place, the case is being treated as an officer-involved shooting.
The investigation will be handled by the San Diego Police Department under a countywide protocol designed to prevent departments from investigating shootings by their own officers or deputies.
On the day of the shooting, officers responded around 10 a.m. to a report of an assault near Fiesta Island Road.
Investigators learned Bocaya had gone to Fiesta Island that morning to walk his dogs, Campbell said. After parking on the road, exiting his vehicle and heading to the back to get his dogs out, the officer heard Maloney begin yelling at him.
Campbell said Maloney was near his parked van about 75 feet away from the officer.
Before the officer could get his dogs out, Maloney began approaching the officer, who had parked his van on the sand between the water and road, Campbell said. Bocaya showed his badge, identified himself as a police officer and grabbed his phone to call the police.
Maloney allegedly then began stabbing the officer with a knife, causing serious injuries, Campbell said. Bocaya then pulled out his personal firearm and shot Maloney once, he said.
Maloney died at the scene.
Bocaya ran back to his vehicle and called the police. Paramedics arrived and took him to a hospital. He was released from the hospital after several days of treatment.
When the police department completes its investigation, it will be reviewed by the county district attorney’s office to determine if Bocaya bears any criminal liability.