San Diego
An off-duty San Diego police officer exchanged shots with two armed robbers outside a Ralphs supermarket in Clairemont Tuesday night before the gunmen fled in a stolen car, police said.
Officer Rich Draper was in the store at 10:18 p.m. and saw two bandits, armed with pistols, holding up a cashier, Sgt. Chuck Sleeper said. Draper followed the bandits into the parking lot.
One of the bandits fired two shots at Draper when he noticed he was being followed. Both shots missed.
Draper fired three shots, which also missed, at the robbers before they jumped into a car and sped away, Capt. Winston Yetta said.
The getaway car was later found at Chateau Drive and Verley Court.
Yetta said the robbers escaped with an undetermined amount of money.
Detectives believe the two bandits may be responsible for seven other supermarket robberies in San Diego County.
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