Police Officer Wounded Before Killing Suspect at Motel Near Disneyland

A police officer was wounded early Friday in a motel shootout near Disneyland that left an assault suspect dead and sent tourists scrambling.

Anaheim police released few details about the shooting except to say that it occurred at such close range that the wounded officer, Tim Garcia, fell onto the suspect after the exchange of gunfire near a motel pool.

Garcia, 28, underwent three hours of surgery for bullet wounds in his abdomen and thigh and was reported in good condition.

The suspect, hit by several bullets, was dead on arrival at Garden Grove Community Hospital.

Police did not release the dead man’s name pending notification of his relatives. They described him as a parolee in his mid-20s with an extensive criminal record. Officers said he had been deported to Mexico in January, 1994.

The shooting occurred after officers responded to a 911 call about a man who had pistol-whipped someone and fired a shot in the 2100 block of Mallul Drive, which is two blocks from Disneyland.