Police Shoot, Kill Man After Pulling Him From Harbor
Man Attacked Officer With Taser, Police Say

UPDATED: 3:49 pm PDT July 20, 2008

SAN DIEGO -- A man from Los Angeles was shot dead by San Diego Harbor Police after they plucked him out of San Diego Bay and he reportedly fought with officers and tried to grab an officer's pistol, authorities said.

An autopsy will be conducted Monday on 37-year-old Steven Paul Hirschfield, who was rescued by the police officers he then allegedly attacked in the bay, about a miles west of the downtown Embacadero area.

Harbor Police Lt. Ken Franke said a charter boat in the bay reported a man overboard about 11:10 p.m. Saturday, and Harbor Police officers in a boat fished Hirschfield out of the bay about 500 feet south of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station on North Harbor Drive.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the cruise boat was a "gay pride day" excursion.

Once aboard the police boat, Hirschfield fought with the two officers, Franke said.

The rescued man knocked one officer to the deck, injuring him, then took his Taser stun gun and hit him in the face with it, Franke said.

Hirschfield then tried to take the officer's handgun, the policeman said.
The other officer shot Hirschfield once in the upper body, Franke said.

Paramedics met the Harbor Police boat at the Embarcadero and declared Hirschfield dead, he said.

The injured officer was taken to Sharp Hospital with face and leg injuries, he said.