Officer Kills Knife-Wielding Man

A routine traffic stop in East San Diego on Tuesday night turned into a “life-and-death struggle” in which a knife-wielding La Mesa man was shot to death by police after slashing an officer on the hand, police said.

Fred L. Hallmark, 30, died about midnight at Mercy Hospital, Deputy Coroner Dan Matticks said. Police said Hallmark had been shot once in the chest.

Lt. Lou Scanlon said Hallmark had been pulled over by police about 11 p.m. for a minor traffic violation near Landis and 44th streets. Police Agent Daniel Christman ordered Hallmark and a passenger out of the car, Scanlon said.

A fight broke out between Hallmark and Christman when the officer attempted to arrest the man after spotting a plastic bag of what appeared to be methamphetamine in the driver’s seat, Scanlon said, adding that in the scuffle, a knife underneath Hallmark’s jacket fell to the ground.

“It was a life-and-death struggle between the two of them,” Scanlon said.

As the two wrestled, Hallmark reached for the officer’s service revolver and managed to pull it out of the holster, Scanlon said. The gun also fell on the ground.

Hallmark got hold of the knife and cut Christman’s hand, Scanlon said.

“At some point, Christman saw the gun, shoved Hallmark back and grabbed the gun,” Scanlon said.

“He pointed the gun at Hallmark, who was advancing at him with the knife,” Scanlon said. “He was ordered to drop the knife at least twice, and he continued to advance with the knife.”

Scanlon said Christman fired two shots, one striking Hallmark in the chest.

Christman was taken to Villa View Hospital, where he was treated and released, Scanlon said. He has been assigned administrative duty while homicide detectives investigate the shooting.

The passenger, identified by police as Karen V. August of San Diego, was questioned and released.

Scanlon said Hallmark had an outstanding warrant for auto theft and had an “extensive criminal record with numerous narcotics and weapons violations.”

The incident was the sixth officer-involved shooting by San Diego police this year, spokesman Gary Metrovich said. In the 6 shootings, 2 people were killed, 3 were wounded and 1 was missed.

Last year, the spokesman said, in 34 shootings by police, 6 suspects were killed, 22 were wounded and 6 were missed.

Metrovich said that San Diego police officers were assaulted 326 times in 1987, with shots being fired at officers in 6 of those instances.