Aaron Russell
Service Record
San Diego County California Sheriff's Department
| Rank | Deputy |
| Dates of Service | Ended May 7, 2020.[1] |
| Salary | $92,214 (2019)[2] |
| Last Known Status | Resigned[1] |
Incident Reports
2020 Death of Nicholas Bils
On May 1, 2020, Bils was arrested for brandishing a golf club at park rangers and was placed in a California State Parks officer's vehicle. Bils escaped and was running away when Russell shot him.[3]
Bils died.[3]
The incident was captured on surveillance video.[4]
Response Timeline
On May 7, 2020, Russell resigned.[1]
On July 14, 2020, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office charged Russell with second-degree murder. Russell faces 15 years to life in prison.[5][4]
On July 14, 2020, Russell pleaded not guilty.[6]
On December 21, 2020, Bils' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Russell, the Sheriff, the county, and the two park rangers.[7]
On January 7, 2022, Russell pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.[8]
In 2022, Russell was sentenced to one year in jail.[9]
In 2022, the family's lawsuit was settled for $8.1 million.[9]
On May 17, 2024, Russell was indicted by a federal grand jury for depriving Bils of his right to be free from officers using excessive force and with discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Russell faces up to life in prison.[3]
LEO Ratings
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot man near downtown jail resigns, FOX 5, 2020-05-08
- ↑ Aaron Russell Rh, San Diego County, Dep Sheriff, govSalaries
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Former San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Civil Rights Violation for Fatally Shooting Unarmed Man, U.S. Department of Justice, 2024-05-17
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Former San Diego Sheriff's deputy who fatally shot man escaping custody charged with second degree murder, CBS 8, 2020-07-13
- ↑ Jason Kurosu, Ex-San Diego County sheriff's deputy charged with murder in detainee shooting pleads not guilty, ABC 10, 2020-07-14
- ↑ Alexis Rivas, Former Deputy Pleads Not Guilty to Murder in Shooting of Mentally Ill Man Who Escaped Custody, NBC San Diego, 2020-07-14
- ↑ Mother of unarmed man fatally shot outside downtown jail sues county, deputy involved, FOX 5, 2020-12-21
- ↑ Christina Bravo, Former San Diego Deputy Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter Charge in Detainee's Killing Near Jail, NBC San Diego, 2022-01-07
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 San Diego deputy who shot, killed man in 2020 now charged in federal court, NBC San Diego, 2024-05-18
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