San Diego police announced Monday that a suicide note was found in Jacob Peterson's jacket pocket after he was shot and killed by officers early last Saturday morning outside Torrey Pines High School.
San Diego Police say the 15-year-old freshman was shot and killed after pointing a gun at officers just before 3:30 a.m. on Del Mar Heights Road and refusing officers' demands to put down the gun. Police say the gun turned out to be a semi-automatic BB air pistol.
Police say they believe the boy called to report himself to officers in the third-person for a "welfare check." Police arrived to find the teenager standing in the parking lot of the high school, according to SDPD Acting Captain Mike Holden.
Officers said the boy pulled out what appeared to be a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the two officers, Capt. Holden said. Verbal commands were given to drop the weapon but the teen did not comply, according to officers.
Captain Holden said the boy then began walking toward one of the officers while pointing the weapon at them. Officers, once again, said the teen refused verbal commands given to drop the weapon.
Fearing for their safety, Captain Holden said officers fired their weapons at the teenager, striking him multiple times. Police later identified the handgun used by the teenager as a "semi-automatic BB air pistol."
Officers began administering first aid and paramedics were called to the scene. The boy was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where he was pronounced dead.
The body cameras worn by the police officers were operarting though no word was given on whether that footage would be released. SDPD identified the two officers as a 28-year veteran and a four-year veteran.
Later Saturday, the San Dieguito Union High School District confirmed in a letter to parents that the teenager was a student of Torrey Pines High School.
"I am saddened to report that the 15-year-old boy who was killed was a student at our school. Law enforcement has not released the name of the young man, but our hearts go out to the student, his family, and his friends," Superintendent Eric Dill said in the statement. "I know this is difficult, but we ask that you please refrain from conjecture or spreading rumors. This is a difficult time for the family and we need to let them mourn."
A crisis response team was made available at the high school's campus Monday and counseling services will be available at all campuses in the school district.
"As a community, we have a shared responsibility to care for one another. Please rest assured that we will do everything possible to maintain our daily routine while supporting each other as we deal with this sad event," Dill said.
As police continue their investigation, there have been calls for the San Diego Police Department to release the body camera videos that the officers were wearing during the shooting. Arizona civil rights activist, Reverend Jarrett Maupin, is among them, saying, "People are shocked, angry, frightened, and already questioning why body-camera footage isn't being made available as soon as possible." He adds that, "People want to know if what happened had to happen or if this unfortunate result was in any way avoidable."
The officers who shot the teen were a 28-year veteran and a 4-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department.