Battle With Police Fatal to Gunman : Fleeing Suspect Opened Fire After High-Speed Chase

A National City man sought as an attempted murder suspect died Friday when he was shot in the head during an exchange of gunfire with police after a wild highway chase in Oceanside on Thursday night.

Joseph Rex Ditto, 34, described by police as a biker, died at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla at 11:50 a.m., a hospital spokesman said. Ditto was hit by a bullet that went through his skull when he exchanged dozens of shots with about 25 officers from the Oceanside and Carlsbad police departments, the California Highway Patrol and with Sheriff’s deputies.

Early reports said that Ditto fired an Uzi submachine gun at pursuing officers, who cornered him after they blocked a westbound on-ramp of California 78 at College Avenue and Vista Way. But on Friday, National City officers said that he had actually been firing a modified .30 caliber semi-automatic carbine. Ditto also was armed with a 9 mm automatic pistol, officers said.

Sherry Allen, 31, who was identified as Ditto’s girlfriend, drove the car in which they were both riding but was not injured in the exchange of gunfire. She has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer and is being held in Las Colinas County Jail for women in Santee.

Oceanside police spokesman Lt. Bill Krunglevich said that Allen drove the red Chevrolet Camaro, while Ditto crouched behind a front seat, through residential areas at speeds that reached 100 m.p.h. before the car spun out of control when she attempted to enter California 78.

Allen dived out of the car and lay on the ground while Ditto and the officers exchanged gunfire for about 10 minutes. Krunglevich said that Ditto fired several rounds from the carbine and automatic pistol before he was hit in the head. After Ditto stopped firing, officers waited 30 minutes before approaching the car because, Krunglevich said, an informer had reported that Ditto was carrying a hand grenade.

An Oceanside police dog was brought in to check for explosives but none were found, he said. No officers were injured in the gunfight.

The incident began at 6:50 p.m. Thursday when National City detectives, acting on a tip from an informant, tried to arrest Ditto for the attempted murder of Thurman Johnson. National City police had been looking for Ditto since April 17, when, witnesses said, Johnson was shot in the back. Police spokesman Lt. Tom Deese said that, according to witnesses, Ditto then put the gun to Johnson’s head, but it misfired. The two men had been fighting over a woman, Deese said.

On Thursday morning, National City police received a tip that Ditto had been admitted at Tri-City Hospital in Oceanside for treatment of a drug overdose.

Deese said that Ditto had used his brother’s name, Ralph, when he was admitted. When police called the hospital, Ditto had already been released. Two National City detectives, backed by Oceanside police, then went to a house on Comanche Street to arrest him. Deese said that National City police had requested assistance because the informant had said that Ditto was armed with explosives and grenades.

No explosives or grenades were found, however, Deese said.

Police called the house and attempted to persuade Ditto to surrender, but he and Allen jumped into the Camaro and drove off, police said.

Police cars from various departments were blocking the intersection of College Avenue and Vista Way when Allen and Ditto attempted to enter California 78. Police continued to block streets throughout the night and Friday morning as investigators combed the area and attempted to recreate the shooting.

Krunglevich said that investigators were trying to determine how many shots were fired by each side and have not determined which officer fired the fatal shot.