Stockton, CA - Driver Shot by San Joaquin County Sheriff's Deputies Near Wisconsin and Michigan Avenues

Stockton, California (June 23, 2026) - San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputies shot a driver near Wisconsin and Michigan Avenues in Stockton on the morning of June 23, 2026, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. The driver was the vehicle's only occupant and was transported to a local hospital.

Deputies say they were investigating a disturbance call near Moon Avenue at around 11:30 a.m. when they observed a vehicle leaving the scene. They pulled the vehicle over near the intersection of Wisconsin and Michigan Avenues. During the traffic stop, deputies say they spotted a gun inside the vehicle. Details about the events that followed remain unclear, according to the Sheriff's Office, but an officer-involved shooting occurred.

An investigation is underway.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

A shooting that leaves someone hospitalized and a family without answers deserves a full, independent accounting. The legal process for pursuing that accountability has strict deadlines under California law.

What to Do After a Police Shooting in California

Families and survivors of officer-involved shootings often face the same institutional systems they may want to hold accountable. These questions address what you can do now, while the investigation is still open.

Can a civil claim move forward while the criminal or administrative review is still open?

Yes. A civil rights claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 runs on its own track, separate from any internal affairs review, DA investigation, or criminal proceedings. You do not have to wait for those processes to conclude.

What should the family do right now?

Do not give a statement to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office or any investigating agency without your own attorney present. You have the right to request body-worn camera footage and the full incident report through a California Public Records Act request. Preserve any evidence you have: photos, videos, witness names, your own account of what you know.

What standard applies to the use of force?

Under California Penal Code § 835a, a peace officer may only use deadly force when a reasonable officer would believe it was necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury. Whether that standard was met is at the center of any civil rights claim.

What is the filing deadline?

This is where families lose the right to sue. Under the California Government Claims Act (Govt. Code § 911.2), you must file a formal claim against San Joaquin County within six months of the date of the shooting. That deadline is December 23, 2026. Missing this filing permanently bars your right to pursue a civil lawsuit, regardless of what the evidence later shows.

A civil rights claim under § 1983 and CCP § 335.1 carries a two-year statute of limitations, with a deadline of June 23, 2028, but the six-month Government Claims Act deadline governs first and is the one that ends cases before they start.

Contact Our California Civil Rights Attorneys

When a family member is shot by law enforcement and the details are still unclear, the instinct is to wait and see what the investigation finds. That impulse is understandable. But the Government Claims Act does not wait, and the agencies responsible for preserving evidence will not hold it indefinitely.

Our police shooting attorneys in California have recovered more than $200M for clients, including a $25 million civil rights verdict against a government agency. We handle these cases at trial, not just in settlement, averaging 7+ jury trials per year. If the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office cannot account for what happened on Wisconsin and Michigan Avenues, we know how to find out.

Body camera footage, radio communications, and witness statements are all time-sensitive. Each day that passes without a preservation demand is a day that evidence can be overwritten, misplaced, or officially withheld.

There is no cost to speak with us. If we take your case, there are no fees unless we win.

Why Injured Clients Trust Christian Contreras Law

• $200M+ recovered for clients
• More than $30M recovered in 2025 alone
• Takes cases to trial with 7+ jury trials each year
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Speak Confidentially With a Civil Rights Attorney at (866) 836-6588

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.