District Attorney Finds Fatal Goleta Grocery Store Shooting by Deputies Was Justified

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has determined that the October 2025 shooting death of a man inside a Goleta grocery store by sheriff’s deputies was a justifiable homicide.

District Attorney officials announced on Friday, June 12, that the shooting of 34-year-old Abdourahman Nyan of Connecticut was justified under California Penal Code section 196(b), concluding an eight-month review of the incident.

“When Nyan ignored commands to drop two knives, held one knife in each hand and used a metal trashcan as a shield while rushing at deputies, his actions created a reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury in the minds of Deputy Muneton and Sergeant Delgadillo,” the District Attorney’s report stated.

The Incident

The fatal confrontation occurred on the afternoon of October 20, 2025, at the Magnolia Shopping Center in the 5100 block of Hollister Avenue, in the unincorporated area commonly referred to as “Noleta.”

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office investigation, deputies responded at 2:39 p.m. to a report of an assault in progress outside the Ralph’s grocery store. Detectives learned the altercation began when Nyan was seen abusing another person’s dog. Before deputies arrived, Nyan stabbed the dog’s owner—an adult male—twice and then fled into the grocery store, which was occupied by customers and employees.

Sergeant Eric Delgadillo, Deputy Anthony Muneton, and additional deputies entered the store and located Nyan, who had barricaded himself inside a public restroom at the back of the store.

Deputies attempted to negotiate with Nyan and de-escalate the situation for a peaceful resolution. Believing he was still armed with the knife used in the assault, deputies placed display racks in front of the restroom door in an effort to contain him.

“Moments later, Nyan suddenly opened the door, pushed through the barricade, and charged toward the deputies clutching a metal trashcan as a barrier while holding a knife in each hand,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in its initial report. “Deputies were positioned less than ten feet away in the narrow alcove outside the restroom and issued verbal commands.”

A third deputy deployed a Taser while Sergeant Delgadillo and Deputy Muneton fired six rounds, stopping the attack.

Deputies immediately secured both knives and began lifesaving measures. Fire and medical personnel arrived shortly after and pronounced Nyan deceased at the scene.

Investigation and Review

The District Attorney’s review was based on investigative reports, coroner’s reports, toxicology reports, audio recordings including 911 calls, photographs, witness cell phone video footage, video surveillance footage, body-worn camera footage, and witness interviews collected during the investigation conducted by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation was submitted to the District Attorney’s Office by SBSO Detective Thomas Brownlee.

Applying California Penal Code sections 196(b) and 835a, as well as relevant case law, the District Attorney concluded that Deputy Muneton and Sergeant Delgadillo “acted reasonably in their use of deadly force.”

The full report is available to read here.

Victim and Community Response

The stabbing victim was treated at a local hospital and released. The victim’s dog was unharmed, and no deputies were physically injured during the incident.

According to the Gambia Journal, Nyan was a U.S. veteran, National Guardsman, and IT specialist who was part of the Gambian community in California.

Following the shooting, members of the Gambian diaspora in California expressed shock and sorrow, describing Nyan as “a gentle, dedicated neighbor and professional but also a proud serviceman.” Community members had called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to his death.

In an obituary, Nyan’s mother spoke of her son as a soldier who “carried the quiet wounds of war” and reflected on the depression that shadowed him after his military service. 

“Abdou Rahman Nyan was a man of quiet brilliance, fierce dedication, and profound love. Though his voice has been silenced, his spirit remains alive in our relentless pursuit of justice, our commitment to veterans, and our vow to never forget his story,” the obituary stated.

The California Highway Patrol assisted the Sheriff’s Office in the response to the October incident. The Magnolia Shopping Center was evacuated and closed for approximately one hour before reopening to the public at 3:30 p.m. that day.