Benjamin Pickens Obituary Death – A Clairemont man slain in a police shootout last week was identified by police. He was also accused of shooting and killing a K-9 police dog. In a news release Monday, SDSO Lt. Joseph Jarjura identified Benjamin Pickens, 33, as the suspect. Authorities said a gunshot wound killed him, and the manner was homicide.
Jarjura said the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Unit was summoned to investigate the officer-involved incident per the Countywide Memorandum of Understanding. According to police, Addam Ansarie, a Western Division patrol officer with the San Diego Police Department for 11 years, shot the suspect. Around 1:23 a.m. on Aug. 2, police responded to shots fired in the 3500 block of Ben Street. The shooting suspect, a white Tesla sedan passenger, fled the area without injuring anyone, police said. Sheriff’s department: The armed suspect exited the Tesla on Mesa College campus and ran on Mesa College Circle.
SDSO said that the non-compliant, unstable suspect “made multiple movements grabbing the gun with his right hand” from underneath his left armpit after multiple verbal requests. Sir, a K-9 officer, then approached the defendant, who turned his body to the right and drew the revolver from his armpit. One officer fired one round from his rifle, hitting the suspect in the upper left torso. The suspect fired one round, Jarjura stated. Police claimed Pickens died from his injuries after being hospitalized. Sir was struck in the upper right chest and rushed to a vet, but he died. Call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 565-5200 with any information on this occurrence. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
