Navy Officer Faces 3 Years in Prison After Police Shooting

A Navy non-commissioned officer who was shot by a San Diego policeman last year after raising a rifle in his direction pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of brandishing a firearm in the presence of a peace officer.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Esteban Nandin, who is stationed at Coronado's Naval Amphibious Base, faces a maximum of three years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 16 by Judge Eugenia Eyherabide.

Nandin, 25, withdrew his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity in order to plead guilty.

San Diego police officers were called to a six-story residential unit, above commercial space and just south of Horton Plaza, shortly before 3 a.m. last Oct. 14.

Someone inside 606 Third Ave. told a 911 dispatcher that a man wearing a tactical vest and carrying a military-style assault-type weapon was in a first-floor corridor, according to police.

Officers entered the building's lobby and spotted a man later identified as Nandin with a gun. He saw the officers and began to raise the barrel of the weapon toward them. 

The officer, an 18-year veteran of the department, responded by firing two rounds from his duty weapon, striking Nandin, police said.

Nandin retreated into the stairwell and a SWAT team was called. About 50 minutes later, Nandin, bleeding from his chest and arm, emerged from the building unarmed and was taken into custody.

A loaded military-style assault rifle, gas mask, handgun and body armor were found in the stairwell, police said.

Investigators determined the rifle was not loaded, said Deputy District Attorney Robert Eacret. A motive was not clear.

– City News Service