BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION – What originated as a domestic incident call sending San Diego Sheriff’s Deputies to the 4000 block of Capitan Grande – escalated, with multiple victims. Deputies had arrived on 01/31/2021 at around 8:20 PM, to speak to a man and a woman there.
As they spoke to the woman, “her boyfriend, twenty-three-year-old Gianni Oliver, emerged and started shooting at the deputies. The confrontation resulted in one sergeant and four deputies shooting at Oliver,” said Lieutenant Thomas Seiver.
A short standoff resulted in Oliver’s surrender to “deputies assigned to the Special Enforcement Detail,” said Lt. Seiver. “Oliver was arrested for 664 187(a) PC – Attempted Murder. Oliver was not shot but was treated at a hospital for a minor injury.”
During the gunfire exchange, the woman was shot, and taken to a local hospital. There, she was treated for life-threatening injuries, then discharged.
Investigators were assigned to determine how the woman was struck by gunfire, and well as determine the motivation for the crime. The ongoing investigation by the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit was updated on the night of 02/04/2021, with additional results and charges provided by Lt. Seiver.
No deputies were injured in the deputy-involved shooting involving Gianni Oliver. The sergeant and four deputies have been ID’d as Sergeant Michael Cruz, Deputy Tony Bernal, Deputy Nicholas McGregor, Deputy Robert Simpson, and Deputy Bryson Benavente.
Lt. Seiver announced, “Sergeant Cruz has been employed with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department (SDSD) for over fourteen years and is currently assigned to the Ramona Substation. Deputy Bernal has been employed with SDSD for almost two years and is currently assigned to the Ramona Substation.
Deputy McGregor has been employed with SDSD for seven years and is currently assigned to Poway Station. Deputy Simpson has been employed with SDSD for twenty-two years and is currently assigned to the Lakeside Substation.
Deputy Benavente has been employed with SDSD for eight years and is currently assigned to the Lakeside Substation.”
Oliver – still in custody – has been charged with five counts of 664 187(a) PC – Attempted Murder, 211 PC – Robbery, 29800(a)(1) PC – Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and 30305(a)(1) PC – Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Lt. Seiver added, “Additionally, Oliver was charged with 245(b) PC – Assault with a Semi-Automatic Firearm for shooting his twenty-three-year-old girlfriend during the incident.”
The San Diego District Attorney’s Office will be handing any further enquiry. You are urged to provide further information to the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 565-5200. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
