SANTEE : Deputy Fired 1 Shot, Sheriff Probe Finds

Only one shot was fired by a San Diego County deputy sheriff during a chase last week that ended with a man critically injured with wounds in his left arm and head, sheriff’s investigators said Monday.

Deputy John Groff’s handgun discharged accidentally when he stumbled while chasing two suspected auto thieves Thursday night in Sycamore Canyon County Park near Santee, authorities said. Examination of Groff’s gun, as well as evidence of only one cartridge at the scene, show that only one shot was fired by the deputy, officials said.

It is still not clear whether the injured suspect, Antonio Pena of San Diego, was hit with more than one bullet, officials said. He remains in critical condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital, where surgeons were unable to determine if Pena’s arm wounds were from the same bullet that entered his head.

Pena and his companion, Manuel Estrada, were being chased at the same time by owners of the truck allegedly being stolen, authorities said. At least one of the pursuers fired several shots at the two suspects, officials said.