Police Officer Shot in Neck After Chase

A police officer was shot through the neck Sunday after a robbery and a chase led to an armed confrontation in an East San Diego back yard, authorities said.

Officer John McGill was shot twice, one bullet grazing his shoulder and the other--described as causing a “through and through” wound--passing through the left side of his neck, a spokesman for the San Diego Police Department said.

The robbery suspect, Steven Lon Nead, 36, suffered a superficial gunshot wound and other injuries, and was to be booked on suspicion of attempted murder, armed robbery and auto theft, authorities said.

McGill was in good condition Sunday night at Mercy Hospital after exploratory surgery, hospital spokeswoman Laura Avallone said.

A five-year veteran of the police force, McGill answered a call at 4:47 p.m. at the Mobil station on Mission Center Road in Mission Valley, where an armed robbery had just been reported.

Soon afterward, McGill spotted the suspect’s car heading south on Mission Center Road and gave chase, police spokesman Dave Cohen said.

The car entered southbound Interstate 805 and continued at high speed, exiting the freeway and eventually crashing into a row of parked cars in the 3300 block of Lincoln Avenue, Cohen said.

Police said the suspect ran down an alley and ended up in a back yard in the 4000 block of Wabash Avenue in East San Diego. The officer ordered him to drop his weapon, a .25-caliber automatic handgun, but the suspect fired two rounds, both of which hit the officer, Cohen said.

The officer returned fire with a 9-millimeter handgun, Cohen said.

Nead suffered a superficial gunshot wound to his right forearm, a spokesman for UC San Diego Medical Center said. He also suffered a gash in his right forearm and may have dislocated his shoulder, Cohen said. He was reported in good condition.

Police said Nead, who was arrested at the scene when backup officers arrived, was to be booked on suspicion of attempted murder, armed robbery and auto theft.