California — On Friday, December 19, 2025, just before 5:30 p.m., deputies from the Imperial Beach Sheriff’s Station responded to a call about an unhoused individual suffering from a possible fentanyl overdose in the 900 block of Seacoast Drive. The man, later identified as 51-year-old Gary Gates, was known to frequent the area near the Imperial Beach Pier. When deputies found Gates, he was holding a six-inch folding knife. The deputies began talking with Gates, who was holding the knife against his chest. Deputies called in numerous resources to assist, including the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) and Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT). They talked to Gates for several hours and got him to put the knife away. Deputies also offered him mental health services.
Gates told deputies he did not want any help or services. He also did not display any signs of having a medical emergency. Eventually, deputies left the scene since there was no threat to the community. At no time did Gates threaten deputies or others during this incident. On Sunday, December 21, 2025, just after 1:00 p.m., the Sheriff’s Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call made by a man identifying himself as Gary Gates. Gates tells the Sheriff’s Emergency Services Dispatcher he wants to speak with a specific deputy. The dispatcher asks Gates if there is an emergency, but he refuses to answer the question. The dispatcher tells Gates he will need to call the Sheriff’s non-emergency line if there is no emergency. The call is then hung up by Gates. At around the same time as Gates was making the 9-1-1 call, deputies from the Imperial Beach Sheriff’s Substation were patrolling the area around the Imperial Beach Pier along Seacoast Drive. That afternoon, there was a community event taking place with hundreds of people in attendance.
It was just after 1:30 p.m. that a group of deputies near the Imperial Beach Pier were confronted by Gates. Deputy Hammond begins to talk to Gary Gates, who specifically wanted to talk to him. Deputy Hammond knew Gates from previous encounters in the area. When Deputy Hammond asks Gates what was going on, Gates insists he only wants to talk to him and not the other deputies present. When Deputy Hammond walks towards Gates to continue the conversation, Gates tells him to back off and starts walking backwards into the intersection. Gates then pulls out a knife and tells Deputy Hammond to pull out his gun and not to miss. When Gates starts walking towards the deputies, Deputy Hammond pulls out his gun and repeatedly tells Gates to put the knife away. When Gates refuses to comply and continues advancing towards the deputies with the knife, Deputy Hammond fires his gun several times, striking Gates. Deputies rendered medical aid to Gates, until paramedics arrived. He was taken to a hospital, but did not survive his injuries.
