San Diego Pride Marred by Shooting
San Diego Harbor Police reportedly shot a man late Saturday night, July 18, after he fought officers who had just rescued him from the water. The San Diego Union reported that Harbor Police responded to a call from a boat chartered for a gay pride cruise about a man overboard near midnight.
A police boat found the man, Steven Paul Hirschfield, 37, of West Hollywood, according to other reports, in the water. The paper reports that, after he boarded the boat and began fighting with two officers. "He knocked one officer to the deck, took the officer's Taser stun gun and began beating him in the face with it," the paper reported.
After trying to get the injured officer's gun, the second officer shot him. Paramedics meeting the boat pronounced him dead.
The cruise boat was forced to dock. Police and Coast Guard personnel reportedly interviewed all the partygoers as they exited to boat. Bill Hardt, the promoter of the event, sent out a general release in which he expressed his sympathy to Hirschfield's family.
"At this time, we have no additional information to provide," he said. "We will continue to cooperate fully with all law enforcement agencies involved as the investigation continues. I would also like to extend our appreciation to those aboard the cruise who were so gracious, patient, supportive and understanding as the events unfolded."