San Diego to Pay $30 Million Settlement in Police Shooting Case

The city of San Diego is set to approve a $30 million settlement for the family of Konoa Wilson, a 16-year-old Black boy fatally shot by police officer Daniel Gold on January 28, 2025. This settlement ranks among the largest in U.S. history for a wrongful death case involving law enforcement. The incident occurred as Wilson was fleeing from another individual who had opened fire on him at a downtown train station.

New York Post

According to reports, Wilson was running for his life when he encountered Officer Gold, who had been responding to an unrelated call nearby. Body camera footage shows Wilson emerging from a corridor and being shot twice in the back by Gold, who later stated "San Diego Police" only after firing. The Wilson family alleges that Gold acted without warning and that their son was not a threat at the time of the shooting. Wilson was pronounced dead at the University of California San Diego Health Medical Center shortly after the incident.

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Following the shooting, Wilson's parents filed a lawsuit against the city of San Diego and Officer Gold in June 2025, claiming that the officer's actions constituted a "catastrophic failure of policing." The lawsuit argues that Wilson was shot while attempting to escape danger, and that he was not a suspect in any crime. The city council is expected to formally authorize the settlement, which will be funded through the Public Liability Fund shared by several municipalities.

Newsweek

Nick Rowley, the attorney representing Wilson's family, criticized the police response, stating, “A 16-year-old boy was running for his life. He was not a threat and not a suspect, yet he was shot in the back by a police officer who only saw him for one second before deciding to pull the trigger.” The San Diego Sheriff's Office has indicated that the investigation into the shooting is thorough, with findings to be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine any potential criminal liability.

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Critics of the police department's actions have highlighted the broader issues of police violence and racial tensions in the U.S., which have led to significant movements for reform. The settlement amount exceeds the $27 million awarded to the family of George Floyd in 2021, a case that ignited nationwide protests against police brutality.

Newsweek

The San Diego City Council is scheduled to vote on the settlement on Tuesday. This decision follows a tentative approval made in September 2025, and if authorized, it will mark a significant financial acknowledgment of the tragic incident involving Konoa Wilson.

New York Post

• “What People Are Saying Nick Rowley, the Wilson family attorney, said in a statement to City News Service on Friday: “What happened to Konoa was a catastrophic failure of policing.” — Nick Rowley, Wilson Family Attorney

Newsweek

• “Only after shooting DECEDENT and watching him fall to the ground did Defendant GOLD finally announce ‘San Diego Police,’” — Excerpt from the lawsuit filed by Wilson's family.

New York Post