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Vintage San Diego Police Shooting of Augustine Newman March 1979

3,170 views · Published 19 May 2016 · 2:03 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: IRATE Productions · 2016 · Nonprofits & Activism

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In April 1979 police shot and killed a 23-year old gunman who held a psychologist hostage at gunpoint in a parked sports car on a San Diego freeway for four hours. The hostage, Dr. Richard Townsend, escaped from the car unharmed.The gunman, identified as Augustine Osebar Newman, a Nigerian college student , was dead on arrival at Mercy Hospital.

"He suffered, multiple injuries to his chest and head," a hospital spokeswoman said.

The end of the standoff came when Newman threw open the door of the white sports car and came out shooting with a .45-caliber automatic previously concealed in his coat.

Police fired four or five shots in a quick burst, and Newman fell to the ground.

Townsend got out of the car on the driver's side during the gunfire.
Police said Newman formerly lived with Townsend's family while attending school before moving out last
year.

Throughout the ordeal, the gunman held the weapon at the chest of Townsend ,a criminal psychologist. At one point, the gunman demanded that he be allowed to drive to the county jail where he would surrender and later asked to hold a news conference. #Copwatch #SanDiego #FilmThePolice

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