A man who was shot to death while trying to steal a 70-foot yacht docked at the Pier 32 Marina in National City had a history of drug abuse and mental health issues, police said Thursday.
Casey Ryan, 40, was killed by the boat owner after he unmoored the yacht at a National City marina and set it adrift before dawn on Sept. 4, then forced his way into the cabin and attacked a resident, authorities said.
A 63-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman and a dog were on the $2 million yacht at the time.
During the ensuing struggle, the suspect was shot and killed, police said.
Investigators determined the man who fired the shots was legally defending himself. Police say Ryan had been acting aggressively in the days before his death.
According to a witness, his neighbor was shouting, "Help me, help me. I shot an intruder" after four gunshots rang out.
The yacht was owned by a driver killed in a fiery Lamborghini crash in downtown San Diego last year, the yacht's captain confirmed to NBC 7. The couple living on board were the parents of the owner.
Michael Llamas, who was also a controversial medical marijuana businessman, was killed when his 2016 sports car struck a curb, a palm tree, and an ornamental anchor, before bursting into flames on Nov. 5, 2017.
Pier 32 Marina is adjacent to the Sweetwater Channel, which funnels into San Diego Bay.
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Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego
