The city of San Diego is poised to approve one of the nation’s largest settlements in a police-related killing, weighing a $30 million settlement to the family of Konoa Wilson, a 16-year-old Black boy who was fatally shot by a San Diego police officer in January.

Newsweek has reached out to the San Diego Attorney’s office and the Wilson’s family attorney for comment via email on Saturday.

Why It Matters

Police violence and racial tensions have been major issues in the U.S. for years, fueling mass movements for police reform. Protests surged after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, driven by Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations and renewed calls to shift funding away from law enforcement.

In 2021, Minneapolis approved a record $27 million civil settlement with Floyd’s family after he died when a police officer pinned him to the ground and pressed a knee on his neck.

According to Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit aggregating data, “police have killed at least 1,079 people in 2025.”  

What To Know

In June, Wilson’s parents sued the city of San Diego and police officer Daniel Gold in connection to their son’s death six months earlier. The family says Wilson was fleeing gunshots fired at him from someone else when he encountered Gold who shot the boy twice in the back. The teen was pronounced dead at the University of California San Diego Health Medical Center nearly an hour later.

Authorities released body camera video of the January 28 shooting that shows Wilson running through a corridor after someone pulled a gun on him. The footage shows Wilson emerging at close range as Gold moved toward the corridor. Gold then fired on Wilson, later saying “San Diego Police.” The family argues in their lawsuit that Gold “instantly, without any warning” fired on the teenager.

In a video compilation of the footage posted on Facebook in February, the police department wrote, “When officers began providing medical aid, a firearm was located concealed under clothing in the juvenile’s right thigh area.”

Gold was in the area due to an unrelated nearby call, the lawsuit and San Diego Sheriff’s Office stated. At the time of the shooting, Gold had been with the force for two years.

A resolution authorizing the $30 million to Wilson’s family has been added to the city council agenda for Tuesday, the Associated Press reported, which also noted the money would be paid from the Public Liability Fund.

What People Are Saying

Nick Rowley, the Wilson family attorney, said in a statement to City News Service on Friday: “What happened to Konoa was a catastrophic failure of policing. A 16-year-old boy was running for his life. He was not a threat and not a suspect, yet he was shot in the back by a police officer who only saw him for one second before deciding to pull the trigger.”

The San Diego Sheriff’s Office said in a late January press release: “The investigation and review process for officer-involved shootings are extremely thorough. When the Homicide Unit completes its investigation, it will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the officers bear any criminal liability for their actions. The San Diego Police Department will conduct an administrative investigation into the officer’s discharge of his firearm.”

What Happens Next?

The city council is expected to authorize the money on Tuesday.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The City of San Diego has agreed to pay the family of Konoa Wilson, a 16-year-old boy who was fatally shot by a police officer in January, $30 million, which is reportedly one of the largest settlements in a police killing case in U.S. history, according to an article published in the New York Times.

The decision stems from an incident on Jan. 28 in downtown San Diego on Kettner Boulevard, when San Diego Police Officer Daniel Gold shot Wilson while the teen was reportedly running from a separate shooting incident.

Body-camera footage released in February from the San Diego Police Department shows the incident unfold. The footage shows Wilson at the Santa Fe Depot Transit station on Jan. 28. When Wilson reaches the train platform, a confrontation reportedly begins between the 16-year-old and two other people.

During the confrontation, one of the individuals began firing shots at Wilson as he fled from the confrontation. Meanwhile, Officer Gold was nearby and reportedly responded to the gunfire and ran towards the Santa Fe Depot corridor, according to SDPD.

Officer Gold reportedly arrives at the corridor entrance at the same time as Wilson, who was running from the gunfire. When Gold sees Wilson running from the corridor, he shoots the teen.

According to SDPD, when officers began performing medical aid on Wilson, they discovered a firearm concealed under the teen’s clothing by his right thigh.

Wilson was eventually transported to the hospital, where he later died.

According to SDPD, detectives identified the suspect in the initial shooting and arrested him on Feb. 6. The shooter was identified as a 16-year-old juvenile.

According to the New York Times article, the settlement is one of the largest in a police killing, surpassing the $27 million paid to the family of George Floyd.

The San Diego City Council will formally consider the settlement on Tuesday

The days are getting colder, and winter coats are being pulled out of the closet. It can only mean one thing: the holiday season is upon us. While it’s not likely we will have a white Christmas in San Diego, there are plenty of ways to feel festive for the holidays.

Below we have some holiday pop-up bars and restaurants offering festive bites:

🎅Dine like Santa

Christmas Brunch at Provisional Kitchen
Dec. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Pendry Hotel
Join Provisional Kitchen for a festive pre-fixe brunch menu featuring sweet and savory corners, carving and dessert stations, a chocolate fountain, choice of entrée and live music. Brunch cocktails and bottomless bubbles are also available.

Christmas Dinner at Provisional Kitchen
Dec. 25 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Pendry Hotel
Celebrate the holiday with friends and family over a special three-course menu curated by Executive Chef Brandon Sloan. Menu highlights include Scallop Crudo, Honeynut Squash Arancini, Roasted Duck Breast, Filet Mignon and a Chocolate Raspberry Tart.

Winter Lodge at the Cutwater Tasting Room
Nov. 20- Dec. 31| Cutwater, 9750 Distribution Ave
The Tasting Room & Kitchen is transformed into a cozy Winter Lodge, offering a lineup of cocktails for every taste—warm, frozen, spirit-free, and everything in between

🍹Festive sips

Lafayette Hotel
Nov. 28- Dec. 31, times vary| The Lafayette, 2223 El Cajon Blvd
The historic Lafayette Hotel & Club has transformed into the North Pole with handcrafted seasonal cocktails, festive bites and even photos with Santa Claus.

Winter Wonderland at Draft
Nov. 28 – Jan. 4, times vary| Belmont Park
Christmas-themed cocktail pop-up bar filled with over-the-top holiday décor and handcrafted seasonal cocktails that bring the holidays to life.

Brisa Holiday Pop-Up Christmas Bar
Nov. 20 – Dec. 31, times vary | Brisa, 2101 Kettner Blvd
Brisa has launched its festive Christmas pop-up, now open through the holiday season. The seasonal transformation features an imaginative lineup of holiday cocktails, immersive festive décor and a cozy, celebratory ambiance perfect for holiday gatherings.

Yo Ho Ho-liday Tavern
Nov. 22 – Jan. 2, times vary | Margaritaville Hotel
Escape the ordinary and step into a world where pirate lore meets holiday magic. Twinkling lights, treasure chests and coastal touches transform LandShark into a merry maritime oasis featuring festive holiday nautical-inspired décor, seasonal cocktails and a festive pirate pop-up. Click here to RSVP.

Deck the Halls at Nason’s Beer Hall
Nov. 27 – Jan. 5, times vary | Pendry Hotel
Add a dose of serious spirit to your holidays with a night out at Nason with the jolliest over-the-top holiday décor, including 700 ornaments, 75 jumbo ornaments, 200 feet of tinsel and more. Visit Nason’s for frosty beers, jolly cocktails, seasonal bites and festive merriment.

Lala-Land
Dec. 1 – Dec. 31, times vary | 1919 India St
The holidays are about to get a whole lot brighter. This December, Lala is bringing back its signature holiday pop-up, Lala-Land, transforming the Little Italy hotspot into a whimsical, over-the-top Christmas wonderland. This year, the team is turning up the sparkle with different pop-ups featuring festive décor and photo opportunities that make every visit unique. Expect surprises that will keep guests coming back all month long.

Sippin’ Santa at the Grass Skirt
Until Dec. 31| Grass Skirt, 910 Grand Ave
A tropical, playful, and retro-kitsch Christmas pop-up offering tropical holiday sips and tasty bites.

Great Dicken’s Holiday Pop-Up
Nov. 28- Dec. 30, 4 p.m. to close| Duck Dive, 4650 Mission Blvd.
Guests can indulge in an exceptional selection of holiday cocktails that truly embody the spirit of the season like Berry Christmas, Everyone, The Great Dickens and more.