1 Slain, 1 Hurt in What May Have Been Robbery Try

A National City police officer fatally wounded an armed man and seriously injured another after what police believe was an aborted robbery at a Domino’s Pizza late Tuesday.

Police said Cedric Pratt, 22, of San Diego, was hit with a shotgun blast fired by an officer and suffered wounds to his back and head. He died at Paradise Valley Hospital at 12:02 a.m.

The other man, Freddie Ray Cavitt, 26, of San Diego, was in guarded condition at Mercy Hospital with shotgun wounds to his right chest and right arm, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Lt. Tom Deese said that at 11:08 p.m. two employees of the Domino’s Pizza at 3403 E. Plaza Blvd. reported that three men had entered the store. The employees were suspicious because the men wore gloves, hats and sunglasses, and one of the men was brandishing what appeared to be a rifle.

The employees locked themselves in a back office and dialed the 911 emergency number.

Officers John Murray and Pablo Godina were patrolling about three blocks away when they heard the call, Deese said. When the officers arrived, they found the three men leaving.

Godina, who has been with the police force for about one year, arrested Earnest Wilson, 18, also of San Diego, Deese said. Wilson was unarmed, police reported.

While Godina was taking Wilson into custody, Murray, who was armed with a shotgun, gave a brief foot-chase and ordered the other two suspects to halt, according to detectives. Deese said Cavitt turned and pointed a rifle at Murray, who fired once, hitting him.

Pratt began to run, and after another brief chase, Murray ordered him to halt. Deese said Pratt stopped and began to turn, and Murray, believing Pratt was armed with a handgun, shot him one time. Police recovered a black military survival knife next to Pratt.

Pratt was taken to the hospital, where he died of his wounds almost an hour later. Cavitt was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Mercy Hospital, police said. Neither the officers nor the employees were injured in the shooting, and no customers were inside the store. No money was taken.

“They just stayed in the office until the situation was over,” Deese said.

Murray, a 13-year veteran of the force, was placed on administrative leave until the investigation is over, Deese said, adding that Godina is back in the field.