Police Shoot at 2 Youths Firing Starter’s Pistol

An incident that began with a pair of youths firing a starter’s pistol at a group of pedestrians in San Diego nearly turned deadly Monday when a police officer fired several rounds at the pair before taking them into custody. No one was hurt.

The episode began about 7:30 p.m. when two officers, who were not identified, saw the youths firing what appeared to be a handgun at 10 people standing on the sidewalk at Crosby Street and National Avenue in Logan Heights, police said.

As the youths got out of the car, one of the officers pulled out a revolver and fired three rounds, one of them hitting the vehicle, authorities said. The youths, who were not identified because they are juveniles, fled on foot but were and apprehended, police said.

It was then that the officers realized the youths had been firing a starter’s pistol, police said, adding that the juveniles were arrested and booked on suspicion of exhibiting a replica of a firearm.

Police said the shooting was being investigated and would be submitted to a department review board. Gang-detail detectives were also looking into the case Monday night because the people involved may have been gang members, police said.