Death was ‘suicide by cop’
The
death of Donald George, shot by county sheriff’s deputies in a confrontation on
March 6, has been judged a “justified homicide.”
After
investigation, the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office issued this
finding, noting that George pointed a gun directly at a deputy sheriff. This
fact and other “indications” show that George intended to commit “suicide by
cop,” according to the report.
On
March 6, deputies went to 4621 Via Gennita in
response to a report of a disturbance where a male subject was armed with a
gun. Deputies were confronted by the 64-year-old George as he left the home for
the patio in the rear. George refused to comply with the deputies’ commands to
drop the gun, and then turned toward one of the deputies, pointing the gun
directly at him. Three deputies responded by firing their weapons at George.
George was pronounced dead a short time later.
On
May 14, the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office concluded its
investigation into the incident. Concluding its report, the Sheriff’s
Department stated that it “continues to extend its sympathy to the family of
Donald George in the wake of this incident. “