In February 2022, San Diego County Sheriff deputies shot the man pictured above approximately a dozen times between his thighs and shoulders. Body-worn camera footage of the incident depicts one deputy yelling “do not move” while another yells “get on the ground.” Holding a pocket knife, he did the latter and got on the ground but as he did both deputies started shooting.

Now, as our law firm seeks justice for him in the courtroom, Erik is trying to put together some semblance of a life after surviving so many gunshots. I’ve had the great fortune to get to know him over most of the past year as we represented him in the criminal case and now in the prospective civil case against the County. He has a great sense of humor. He radiates positivity. He is determined to recover from the shooting. He is blessed to have his fiancée by his side enjoying his company between dressing wounds, trying to lift him in and out of their inaccessible home, and nurturing him through nightmares and PTSD. She gets him to appointments and is his daily champion, but right now it means they’re struggling together.

Before the shooting, Erik and his fiancée were unhoused. Since the shooting, his fiancee left a fast food job to care for Erik nearly full-time. They’ve been cobbling together money from friends and family to pay out-of-pocket for expensive medical necessities in Erik’s new life while also trying to navigate his insurance coverage, prescriptions, medical equipment, and getting to and from his appointments. Deeper in debt and without work, their small family is unhoused again. This time around, the fear of destitution is made worse by the fact Erik is wheelchair-bound and still needs persistent care for his gunshot and surgical wounds. He has not given up hope of independence someday, but he can barely stand, let alone work.

We’ve set a goal of $12,000 because we estimate that amount would enable this survivor to get wheelchair-accessible housing in the expensive San Diego area while contributing a small amount to his most basic needs for the next few months. More would go farther. Less would help significantly. Anything you can offer by way of support is greatly appreciated by them both and will help keep them fed and off the streets.

Below are pictures of Erik last week. Also pictured is the tarp-covered trailer in which he currently sleeps with one or two other people trying to escape the rain. Finally, I’ve included a photograph of the shirt he was wearing with bullet holes marked by sheriffs and an image from the body-worn footage of Erik getting on the ground (both hands are on the ground as he is lowering his body) just before the deputies opened fire. It is a true miracle he survived.

Please help us get this survivor into temporary housing while we collectively endeavor to find a more permanent fix and pursue justice on his behalf.