4S RANCH — The suspect in a shooting in the 4S Ranch community just west of Rancho Bernardo who wounded a San Diego Police Department sergeant has died, according to an ABC 10News report today.
The sergeant who was wounded during a shootout in a supermarket parking lot on Thursday was taken to a hospital for treatment and was conscious and breathing at the time, an official said.
The officer is in serious but stable condition, the county Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release Friday morning.
According to 10News, SDPD Chief David Nisleit said the sergeant will undergo surgery later this morning. The sergeant suffered a bullet wound to his head, said SDPD Officer John Buttle, according to an NBC 7 report.
According to the 10News report, police said the sergeant “was expected to survive.”
The county Sheriff’s Department said that at about 10 p.m. Thursday, SDPD was informed about a stolen vehicle, along with a description of a suspect.
Around 11:30 p.m., officers located the vehicle in the 4S Commons Town Center in the 10500 block of 4S Commons Drive. The suspect was inside a store, the Sheriff’s Department said.
After leaving the store, the suspect “fired at least one round at the officers and struck one of them in the head,” the Sheriff’s Department said. Officers returned fire, and “multiple rounds struck the suspect,” who fell to the ground with his firearm nearby, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Officers rendered medical aid to their partner and the suspect, both of whom were taken to separate hospitals by paramedics. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the suspect was pronounced dead at 1 a.m.
According to NBC 7, Lt. Matthew Carpenter of the county Sheriff’s Department said that at roughly 11:35 p.m. Thursday, witnesses at the 4S Commons Town Center called 911 and “reported a shootout between officers and another person in the parking lot of a Ralphs grocery store.”
SDPD Lt. Adam Sharki said the sergeant “was hospitalized with serious injuries,” NBC 7 reported.
Nisleit told 10News that the sergeant “initially made contact with the individual inside one of the stores at the shopping center, which led them to the outside of the store.”
“This is a very dangerous situation, multiple rounds being fired at officers. The officers did a phenomenal job tonight,” Nisleit said. “Obviously we have a sergeant in the hospital, that makes me emotional. But the officers did an amazing job tonight.”
The shopping center was expected be closed through Friday afternoon, NBC 7 reported.
The sheriff’s Homicide Unit is handling the shooting, according to an official with that department.
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office will then determine if the officers will face any criminal liability for their actions, while SDPD will investigate the officers’ discharge of their firearms. The city Commission on Police Practices will also review of the incident and provide any recommendations.
The Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call the Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or the after-hours line, 858- 565-5200. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 888-580- 8477.