Police Release Identities of 3 Gunmen in Shootout

Names of three of the four men who exchanged gunfire with San Diego police during an alleged robbery attempt in Mira Mesa, leading to the death of one of the robbers, were released Friday.

Police followed the men after receiving a tip that they were planning a robbery, authorities said. When the men arrived at a house in the 8100 block of Lakeport Road late Thursday night, they put on masks and went to the door of the house, police said.

When police confronted them, one of the men reportedly fired one round at the officers. The officers returned fire, wounding three of them. One of the men died later of a chest wound at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

The dead man has not been identified by the medical examiner. He is described as 18 to 25 years old.

Chao Tran, 22, was listed in fair condition Friday at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla with gunshot wounds in the right hand and wrist, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Son Van Nguyen, 19, who was grazed in the head with a bullet, was listed in serious condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital with bullet wounds in his buttocks, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The third man, identified as Hung My Truong, 20, was not wounded and is being held in County Jail without bail on suspicion of murder and attempted robbery. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 4.

Addresses of the men were not released.

The police officers involved in the shooting were Gary Wayne Hill, 34, an 11 1/2-year Police Department veteran; Ward Andrew Rickman, 33, who has been with the San Diego police for 9 1/2 years; and 5 1/2-year veteran Bradley Allen Paugh, 31. The name of the officer who shot the dead man was not released pending further investigation, Berglund said.

The case is being investigated by the San Diego police homicide unit.