Police Shoot, Wound Theft Suspect

San Diego police shot and wounded a 22-year-old man they said was trying to break into a car Wednesday morning in Mira Mesa.

Hector Salazar, 22, believed to be a Mexican citizen, was listed in fair condition at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla with bullet wounds in his leg and arm, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The shooting occurred shortly after police responded to complaints from condominium residents in the 15000 block of Caminito La Bar about people breaking into cars.

When police arrived at the complex’s carport at about 4 a.m., one officer saw Salazar inside a car, apparently tampering with the ignition, San Diego police spokesman Dave Cohen said.

After the officer identified himself, in English and Spanish, Salazar “bolted directly at the officer,” Cohen said.

The officer saw an unidentified object in Salazar’s hand.

He fired at Salazar when they were 6 to 8 feet apart, Cohen said.

Salazar then turned and ran to the other side of the carport, crawled under an elevated storage area and out the other side.

A second officer who heard the shots but did not know who was shooting, fired two rounds at Salazar. He was then arrested.

Police did not release the names of the two officers involved because they are unsure whose shots hit Salazar. Their names are expected to be released today, police said. Neither officer was injured.

Wednesday’s shooting marks the city’s eighth officer-involved shooting in 1991.

There was a total of 23 officer-involved shootings by the end of October last year, Cohen said.