Thomas Johnson Killed in San Diego Police Shooting Near Morena/Linda Vista Trolley Station

Witnesses Heard Two Shots Before Thomas Johnson Died on Friars Road Near the Morena/Linda Vista Trolley Station

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (November 6, 2026) – A 36-year-old man identified as Thomas Johnson was killed in a police shooting near the Morena/Linda Vista Trolley station in San Diego.

San Diego County officials are saying that the shooting occurred around 3:35 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21. San Diego police were first dispatched at about 3:20 p.m. to a report of a man using an axe to damage a trolley at the Morena/Linda Vista platform, according to NBC 7 San Diego.

Officers searched the area with ground and air units, and about 15 minutes later they found Thomas Johnson in the 4700 block of Friars Road. Investigators said Johnson matched the description from the original call.

According to a sheriff’s homicide lieutenant, Johnson allegedly approached an officer with an axe in his hand, and Officer Luisito Fanlo fired multiple rounds, striking him. Two witnesses said they heard two shots from the same officer’s gun, and another said Johnson was holding a hatchet as he walked toward the officer.

Officers called for paramedics and began lifesaving aid, and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews continued those efforts. Thomas Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene at about 4:10 p.m.

Video from the scene showed a pair of scissors on the ground near where Johnson lay, and no officers were injured. The case will be submitted to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the officer bears criminal liability, and the police department will conduct its own administrative review.

This is not the first time San Diego police have opened fire near the trolley system. In June 2023, officers shot and killed a trolley passenger at the San Ysidro Transit Center who was later found to be carrying a replica pellet gun.

In May 2025, an SDPD officer shot and wounded a man who was allegedly wielding an axe near the Pacific Beach/Taylor Branch Library, and that man survived. These encounters raise questions about how officers are trained to respond to people armed with tools rather than firearms, and whether a mental health crisis team or less-lethal options were considered before officers approached Johnson.

Liability for San Diego Police Shootings

California sets a demanding standard for police use of deadly force. Under Penal Code section 835a, an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. The statute also directs officers to use other available resources and techniques when it is reasonably safe and feasible. The Fourth Amendment separately prohibits unreasonable force, and families can bring federal civil rights claims when officers cross that line. Reviews of police shootings tend to focus on several recurring questions:

• Imminence: The key issue is whether the person posed an immediate threat at the moment shots were fired, not simply whether a weapon was present.
• Distance: Investigators look at how far apart the officer and the person were and whether the officer could have created more space or time.
• Warnings: Officers are expected to identify themselves and warn that deadly force may be used whenever feasible.
• Alternatives: Reviewers ask whether Tasers, beanbag rounds, or additional officers were available and considered.
• Crisis Signs: Courts may weigh whether officers recognized signs of a mental health crisis and adjusted their tactics.

The decisions officers make before a shooting can matter as much as the final moment. In Hayes v. County of San Diego (2013), two San Diego County sheriff’s deputies responded to a neighbor’s call at the home of Shane Hayes, learned from his girlfriend that he was suicidal, and then shot and killed him. The California Supreme Court held that liability can arise from officers’ tactical conduct and decisions leading up to deadly force if those choices show, as part of the totality of the circumstances, that the force was unreasonable. A shooting that seems justified in isolation can still be negligent if officers created or escalated the danger. The ruling remains a cornerstone for families seeking accountability after police shootings throughout California.

What California’s Use of Force Data Shows

California requires every law enforcement agency to report incidents in which officers fire at a person or use force that causes serious injury or death. According to the California Department of Justice, there were 581 such incidents statewide in 2024, involving 592 civilians and 1,215 officers. Because agencies report only the most serious incidents, the DOJ cautions that the figures do not capture every use of force in the state. Families seeking answers after a police shooting can draw on several transparency tools:

• Body Cameras: Many agencies record encounters on body-worn cameras, and state law generally requires release of shooting footage within a set period.
• Records Access: Since 2019, many officer records involving shootings and serious force have been open to public records requests.
• State Review: The Attorney General’s office independently investigates officer shootings that kill unarmed civilians.
• Claim Deadlines: Claims against public agencies in California generally must be presented within six months.

Public trust depends on knowing how and why officers use force. Independent review matters most when the agency involved also controls the evidence. Families who lose a loved one to police gunfire have the right to seek a full account of what happened and to hold agencies accountable through the civil courts. Those rights do not depend on what early official statements say.

Investigating Police Shootings in San Diego

We at Feher Law extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Thomas Johnson. We hope that a full and transparent review of this shooting leads to accountability and to changes that prevent similar deaths. This shooting raises serious safety concerns about how officers respond to calls involving people armed with tools near busy transit stations. What options were available to officers in the minutes between the first call and the moment shots were fired?

Have you or a loved one been affected by a police shooting in Morena, Linda Vista, or elsewhere in San Diego County? California law sharply limits when officers may use deadly force, and families are entitled to a full and honest account of how a shooting unfolded. The agency involved typically holds the body camera footage, dispatch audio, and use of force reports, and families often must push hard to see them. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened by gathering body camera recordings, trolley station video, and 911 audio. If you have legal questions or would like a free, independent investigation, we are available anytime at (424) 433-4412.