SAN DIEGO : Man Wielding Gun Wounded by Police

A San Diego police officer shot and critically wounded a 38-year-old man at a downtown apartment complex after the man pointed a gun at officers, police said.

Francisco Flores Hernandez, who lived at the Mason Estate apartments at 17th Street and Imperial Avenue, walked up to the apartment security guard about 1:30 a.m. Thursday and showed him a handgun.

“He said something like, ‘I’m the baddest guy around,’ ” police spokesman Dave Cohen said. The guard, who is not affiliated with any company but was hired directly by the apartment building management, felt threatened and called police.

When officers arrived, Flores was standing in the patio area of the complex, Police Lt. Barbara Harrison said. Officers spoke to him in Spanish and English, and as they approached, Flores lifted his gun and pointed it at officers, Harrison said.

An officer shot Flores several times in the torso, Harrison said.

“He fired immediately,” she said.

Flores, who worked as a mechanic, was taken to UCSD Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.

The name of the officer who shot Flores has not been released yet.

The incident left Flores’ wife--who is pregnant, speaks no English and has three small girls all under the age of 7--distraught.

“The family is destitute,” police spokesman Bill Robinson said. “Apparently (Flores) was the only source of income.”