SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego city attorney's office has entered into a proposed settlement agreement totaling $30 million with the family of Konoa Wilson, a 16-year-old who was fatally shot by police in January 2025. This agreement marks one of the largest settlements involving a police-involved killing in U.S. history, surpassing the $27 million paid by Minneapolis to the family of George Floyd following his murder in May 2020, which ignited a nationwide social justice movement.
The settlement is set to be discussed by the San Diego City Council during their scheduled meeting on Tuesday morning. City officials are hopeful that, if approved, this resolution will help address some of the grievances stemming from the tragic incident involving Wilson.
Konoa Wilson’s family attorney, Nick Rowley, described the situation surrounding Wilson’s death as a “catastrophic failure of policing.” He conveyed a strong sentiment in his statement to City News Service, emphasizing that a teenager was fleeing for his life when he was shot in the back by a police officer who had only a fleeting moment to assess the situation before opting to fire. According to Rowley, Wilson was neither a threat nor a suspect at the time.
The incident that led to Wilson's tragic death occurred on January 28, 2025, at a downtown San Diego train station, where surveillance camera footage captured the moments leading up to the shooting. The footage shows Wilson fleeing from an individual who had brandished a firearm and discharged it in his direction. Upon leaving the station, Wilson encountered Officer Daniel Gold of the San Diego Police Department, who, according to the family's lawsuit, “instantly, without any warning,” discharged two rounds at Wilson as he ran by. The shots struck Wilson in the upper body.
The lawsuit, filed in June 2025, alleges that Officer Gold acted without proper justification and only announced himself as a San Diego police officer after shooting Wilson and observing him fall to the ground. The complaint further emphasizes the racial dynamics at play, asserting that the officers involved committed acts of racial violence against Wilson, who was Black, by shooting him in the back while he was attempting to escape to safety.
Following the incident, Wilson was pronounced dead at UC San Diego Health Medical Center less than an hour after being shot. The case has raised urgent discussions about police conduct and accountability, particularly in cases involving minority youth and the use of lethal force.
As part of the city’s liability considerations, the proposed settlement would be funded through the Public Liability Fund. The upcoming city council meeting will be closely watched by community members and advocacy groups, all of whom are eager to see how city officials address the serious implications of this case and its fallout within the broader context of policing practices and community trust.
