San Diego: Anti-Police Protesters Attack Man With Dog & Photojournalist

06.28.2020 | 12:30 AM | SAN DIEGO – A group of anti-police protesters attacked a man holding his dog who voiced support for the police and then turned against a photojournalist recording the encounter, early Sunday morning.

The group of several hundred gathered in the Gaslamp Quarter in the downtown area around midnight to protest the officer-involved shooting of an armed robbery suspect.

Officers responded to the location and monitored the group when a man who was carrying his dog and reportedly lives in the area voices support for the police officers.

The group of protesters grew angry and began arguing with the man before sucker punching him as he walked away.

A photojournalist filming the encounter was then attacked by so-called “medics” from the anti-police group and others to prevent any film from being recorded.

Due to safety concerns the photojournalist was forced to retreat.

It was unclear how badly the man or his dog were injured in the violent attack.

The officer-involved shooting that prompted the protests occurred on Saturday around 5:45 PM in the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue when officers saw a man they recognized as a suspect in a recent robbery.

Officers attempted to stop the robbery suspect, a 25-year-old man later identified as Leonardo Hurtado Ibarra, who pointed a gun at officers and refused to comply with commands to stop.

An officer-involved shooting occurred as a result of the suspect’s actions. The suspect was transported to an area hospital where he was expected to survive.

The suspect’s handgun, a revolver wrapped in a bandanna, was recovered at the scene of the officer-involved shooting.

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