Published December 12th, 2022
A San Diego, California police officer is recovering after being shot early Monday morning. At approximately 12:30 a.m., San Diego officers attempted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle. The operator of the stolen vehicle led officers on a brief pursuit, which officers discontinued due to safety concerns, and continued to track the vehicle via police helicopter. The operator of the stolen vehicle abandoned the vehicle near an apartment complex, and officers initiated a foot pursuit of the suspect. During the foot pursuit, the suspect produced a handgun and shot one of the pursuing officers, striking him multiple times. While officers provided medical aid to the fallen officer, the suspect barricaded himself in an abandoned townhouse, resulting in a several hours long standoff. Officers later observed the suspect unconscious inside the townhouse. SWAT and K9 officers entered the house, finding the suspect displaying signs of an overdose. Medics administered aid, reviving the suspect, and transported him to a local hospital for further treatment. The injured officer was also transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries. According to San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit, the officer was shot in his ballistic-resistant vest, “which likely saved his life.” The officer is currently in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.
