Search fatalities

William “Bill” Bagdasarian

Age : 58

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/19/2022

Location : 700 block of North Fourth Street

City : El Cajon

County : San Diego

State : California

Agency : San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Suicide

Event : Suicide under police duress during mental health crisis and SWAT standoff

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/19/2022, 58-year-old William “Bill” Bagdasarian died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an approximately three-hour police and SWAT standoff at a residence in the 700 block of North Fourth Street in unincorporated El Cajon. The encounter began after a family dispute and a report that Bagdasarian was threatening to kill himself with a firearm.
.
Shortly before 9:00 a.m., a 911 caller reported that Bagdasarian had locked himself inside the house following an argument with relatives and was threatening suicide. Family members were able to leave the residence safely. At about the same time, a detached garage on the property was burning.
.
Firefighters responded to the property but initially had to withdraw because authorities believed Bagdasarian was armed inside the residence. Sheriff’s deputies evacuated neighboring residents and closed North Fourth Street between Madison and Naranca avenues.
.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department crisis negotiators and mental-health clinicians with the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team attempted for approximately two hours to communicate with Bagdasarian and persuade him to disarm and leave the house. When those efforts were unsuccessful, deputies called the Sheriff’s SWAT team.
.
Shortly before 12:30 p.m., SWAT officers entered the residence and found Bagdasarian in a bedroom with a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound. No police gunfire was reported during the encounter.
.
The Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit investigated the fire, which was contained to the detached garage. Contemporary reporting stated that family members told deputies Bagdasarian had started the garage fire.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2022/08/19/el-cajon-house-fire-leads-to-swat-standoff-near-granite-hills-high-school/
https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/man-dead-after-barricading-self-home
https://patch.com/california/santee/east-county-house-fire-leads-swat-standoff