San Diego

An off-duty San Diego County sheriff’s deputy was forced into a high-speed car chase by three suspects, who fired five rounds at the deputy’s car in East San Diego early Saturday, police said.

Correctional Deputy Jeffrey Howard, who works at the South Bay Detention Facility in Chula Vista, was waiting at a stop light at the corner of Skyline Drive and Meadowbrook Drive when the incident occurred at 5:39 a.m., police said.

Howard was not hit in the hail of gunfire, which left five bullet holes in the door and window of his car, said a San Diego Police spokesman. Police said the motive is unknown. None of the suspects was caught.

Howard was driving to work when, at the intersection of Skyline and Meadowbrook, he noticed a brown Toyota compact pull alongside, police said.

The occupants began yelling at Howard, who told police one of the suspects “looked familiar.” Howard told police he became concerned for his safety and drove through the red light. The Toyota followed, and when it pulled alongside his car on the driver’s side, the suspects opened fire, police said.

Howard was not injured; he reported the incident to the San Diego Police Department.