U.S. government says San Clemente police officers ‘acted appropriately’ in fatal shooting of intruder

SANCHEEO, Calif.

— The San Clementi Police Department said on Friday it was launching an internal investigation into the shooting of an intruder who had broken into the residence of a law enforcement officer, a week after a judge ruled the officers had acted lawfully.

The incident began when a resident reported an intruder had broken in at the house on the 700 block of West San Clemento Street around 1:20 a.m.

Friday, police Chief John Haines said in a statement.

The intruder had entered the residence through a back door, and the homeowner’s wife had called 911 to report the intruder, police said.

Haines described the incident as an unprovoked attack.

The man was shot in the face and killed by officers who fired a warning shot into the suspect’s body, Hainies said.

Police did not say whether the officers were wearing body cameras.

An investigation is ongoing, the statement said.

Hainess said he is still investigating the incident, which he said was an isolated incident, and would not say if the officers involved have been fired.

The San Clementian is owned by the city of San Clementes, which is also where the man’s mother lives.