Former SDPD officer dead in Maryland murder-suicide

A former San Diego police officer who had also been a Camp Pendleton Marine was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Maryland over the weekend.

David Draa.

Linkedin

David Draa.

David Draa. (Linkedin)

Police believe that David Draa, 30, a San Diego police officer from July 2008 to July 2009, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after fatally shooting a 30-year-old friend, said Takoma Park Police Chief Alan Goldberg.

Draa’s body and that of Steven “Kyle” Hickman, 30, of Washington, DC., were found Sunday about 1:45 a.m. lying in the driveway of Draa’s home in Takoma Park, Goldberg said.

Goldberg said Monday that Draa shot Hickman from behind as he was working on a bicycle. Draa then knelt over his friend’s body and took his own life, Goldberg said.

Police said the men had spent Saturday together riding bikes and Hickman got a flat tire at some point.

Hickman sent his wife a text saying that he would spend the night at Draa’s apartment and fix the flat in the morning. Draa’s fiancée was out of town, Goldberg said.

There was no indication of hostility or trouble between the men.

For unknown reasons, Hickman decided to go home early Sunday and was fixing the tire when he was shot.

“We believe that Kyle never knew what happened,” Goldberg said.

Draa was a special education teacher at High Road School in the District of Columbia. According to his Linkedin page, he had been teaching at the school since September 2010.

Before joining the San Diego Police Department, Draa was a first lieutenant and infantry platoon commander for Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division, serving from September 1999 to July 2008. He did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Goldberg said that Draa had experienced severe trauma while in the military and was having personal problems. Investigators also believe both men had been drinking.

“It can only be speculated that possibly with the combination of alcohol and perhaps undiagnosed issues, he took his friend’s life,” Goldberg said.