Authorities Identify Deputy and Man Killed in Imperial Beach Pier Shooting

Overview

• Officials said the encounter on Dec. 21 began near 940 Seacoast Drive when the man produced a knife, voiced a desire to be shot, and advanced on deputies before Deputy Maxwell Hammond fired multiple rounds.
• The man was taken to a hospital and later died, according to SDPD.
• SDPD identified the deputy as Maxwell Hammond, a three-year San Diego County Sheriff’s Office employee assigned to the Imperial Beach Substation.
• The victim was identified as Cary Gates, 51, of Evansville, Indiana, with local reports also referring to him as Gary Gates and noting he had lived in San Diego for a couple of years.
• The case is under SDPD homicide investigation with a forthcoming review by the San Diego County District Attorney, a separate Sheriff’s Office policy review, and monitoring by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as authorities seek tips and evaluate body-camera footage.