Man who fired at Escondido police during chase is shot and captured, authorities say
A man who allegedly shot at Escondido police while trying to run away from an aborted car chase early Thursday was apprehended after being shot himself, authorities said.
San Diego County sheriff’s detectives are investigating the shooting, which was reported around 1:40 a.m. near the Hidden Meadows neighborhood.
The incident began about 10 minutes earlier when Escondido officers responded to a report of a man shooting at a house, said Escondido police Sgt. Shannon Martin. No one was injured.
The suspect drove away, but officers spotted the car and began chasing it north on Interstate 15.
The driver exited the freeway at Deer Springs Road and ran over spike strips placed in the roadway by officers. He pulled over shortly thereafter and began to run away.
As he ran, he fired several rounds at officers, the sergeant said. No one was hit.
At least one officer returned fire and the suspect suffered a gunshot wound to his foot, Martin said. Police aren’t sure if he was shot by police or if he shot himself, the sergeant said.
The man was treated at a hospital and released, and was being interviewed by sheriff’s investigators. He was not identified.
It was not immediately known what charges he would be facing, Martin said.
The Sheriff’s Department said via Twitter that officers suffered minor injuries in the incident. Sheriff’s officials were investigating the shooting because it occurred in an unincorporated area in their jurisdiction.
One Escondido officer had a twisted ankle and another hurt his shoulder during the chase, but both remained on full duty, said Escondido police Lt. Bode Berreth.
Kucher writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
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