Transient Sought in Deputy’s Shooting

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Monday was seeking a 26-year-old transient in the shooting of a deputy during a traffic stop in Lemon Grove last week.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Victoria Reden said James Michael Bright is suspected of shooting Deputy Paul E. Kain, 34, three times in the lower body after Kain pulled a car over for a broken light Saturday. Kain was listed in serious condition Monday at UC San Diego Medical Center.

A passenger in the car remained unidentified. The gunman was believed to have acted alone.

Sheriff’s officials said that, as Kain approached the car on foot in the 8500 block of Palm Street at 6:08 a.m., the driver leaned out the window and opened fire with a handgun.

Kain fell behind the suspect’s car but managed to return fire, officials said.

The car was recovered Saturday night near an El Cajon apartment complex. A tenant called authorities after recognizing the license number from a television news report.

After the shooting, the car’s owner reported to El Cajon police that it had been stolen from the parking lot of an El Cajon motel.

“The report of the theft is suspicious at this point. The actual report itself is under investigation,” Reden said, declining to elaborate.

Bright is described as white, about 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, with shoulder-length, wavy brown hair and a shaggy goatee. He has tattoos on both arms.

Bright has been known to drive a 1981 gray or tan Ford pickup, California license number 2X50709, Reden said.

He is believed to be armed with a gun and possibly a hand grenade, and is considered extremely dangerous, Reden said.

Sheriff’s officials were asking that anyone with information on Bright’s whereabouts notify authorities by calling 692-5600 or 565-5200.