Boy, 14, Shot in Head by Officer, in Stable Condition

A 14-year-old National City boy was in stable condition Thursday after being shot in the head by a police officer who believed the car the boy was riding in was about to run him over, authorities said.

“He’s doing pretty well, he’s able to sit up and speak,” said Debbie Seitz, a spokeswoman for Mercy Hospital, where the boy was admitted. “He’s under close supervision and there’s no indication of neurological damage at this point.”

San Diego police said the boy was a passenger in a car that was stolen from a Paradise Hills residence Sunday.

Police said that Officers Danny Vega and Paul Wayne were pursuing the car, which had been speeding, in the 4900 block of Logan Avenue about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

When the car struck a curb and came to a stop, the patrol car stopped behind it. Wayne approached the passenger side of the car, and Vega had just stepped out of the patrol car when the boys’ car began backing quickly toward him, police said.

Vega fired four rounds, one in the air and three at the car, police said. The 14-year-old was struck once just above the neck, on the left rear side of the head. The 15-year-old driver was unharmed.

Although some witnesses at the scene gave a reporter a different version of what happened, police said they have no reason to change their account of the shooting.

“I have not been informed of any information that has come from any source that would cause me to change the account,” Lt. Phil Jarvis said.

Some witnesses said the police officers were still in the car when the boys’ car backed into the patrol car. As it tried to speed away, the officers reacted, the witnesses said.

Police spokesman Dave Cohen said: “We’re investigating as we do all police shootings, and if there is some overriding reason to change our position, I’m certain we will, but we have no reason at this point to doubt the officer’s story.

“It’s not uncommon that people see an event differently, but I don’t know where they were (at the scene). . . . We have the officer’s statement. There’s no reason to disbelieve him.”

Jarvis said he could not release the name of the 14-year-old because “there is a possibility that he will be charged with a crime.”

“I’m not going to take the chance that the (district attorney) might not charge him” in the theft of the car.

Vega, a four-year veteran of the Police Department, has been placed on administrative duty.