Woman Is Slain in Car; Irvine Police Jail Driver

A man police say shot and killed a woman inside his car, wounding himself in the ankle, was arrested in Irvine on Sunday afternoon after a brief standoff with officers.

David Benjamin Rodgers, 37, of Lancaster was booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of murder after he was treated for what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Sgt. Jeff Noble of the Irvine Police Department.

“We believe that he shot the passenger while they were inside the car,” Noble said, adding that police were still trying to determine the relationship between Rodgers and the woman.

Coroners officials didn’t release her name because they had not notified her relatives.

Motorists near Alton Parkway and Sand Canyon Avenue heard gunshots about 11 a.m. and called police from their cell phones, authorities said.

Witnesses said they then saw Rodgers’ gray Pontiac Grand Am jump a curb and run into shrubs in a field near the San Diego Freeway.

A witness thought the vehicle was involved in an accident and went to check on the two people inside. When he saw Rodgers clutching a handgun, he walked away and called police.

The Grand Am was quickly surrounded by officers, and watched from a police helicopter. Officers ordered Rodgers to toss his gun from the car and surrender.

“The officers gave him commands but he refused to listen,” Noble said.

“He looked like he was on his cell phone, and at one moment he was waving it, but he didn’t say anything to us.”

After 15 minutes, Rodgers threw the gun out of the window and crawled from the car, limping, Noble said.

Police said three bullet holes in the car’s windshield may be from Rodgers’ gun. Noble said none of the eight officers fired their weapons.

An Irvine police officer responding to the shooting was injured when his vehicle collided with a car at Alton Parkway and Jeffrey Road. Three passengers were taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana. The fourth passenger and the officer were taken to Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center. Injuries ranged from minor to moderate.