San Diego

Two witnesses testified Thursday that they saw a panting Stacy Don Butler burst into a house in Southeast San Diego moments after a San Diego police officer was mortally wounded in the area.

The testimony came in the preliminary hearing of Butler, 25, a gang member from San Diego, who is charged with killing Officer Jerry Hartless, 24. Hartless was shot in the forehead Jan. 9 and died Jan. 31.

Natalie Terry, 23, told San Diego Municipal Judge Robert Stahl Jr. that she saw Butler come into a house where she was staying. She said he was “breathing hard,” sweating and looked tired.

She and several other witnesses have been relocated because of threats allegedly made to them. Her testimony was videotaped by the district attorney’s office to use in Butler’s trial if he is bound over to Superior Court.

Terry said Butler changed his sweaty shirt in the house, which is not far from the shooting site, the 5000 block of Manomet Street.

Felicia Johnson, 19, also said she saw Butler breathing hard and sweating and said she heard police sirens in the area shortly afterward. She said she has known Butler five years.

Johnson is to resume her testimony today, along with another witness who has been relocated.