State Department of Justice investigate officer-involved shooting on Interstate 15

SAN DIEGO (CNS) — The California Department of Justice announced it will investigate the Escondido Police Department following a police pursuit that led to an officer-involved shooting on the 15 freeway Friday evening.

Under California Assembly Bill 1506, the DOJ is required to investigate officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed individual.

In a statement released Saturday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed one person died as a result of the shooting involving Escondido officers. It is unclear whether the individual died from a vehicle crash or from gunfire.

The shooting took place around 5 p.m. Friday on Interstate 15 near state Route 163 in the Miramar area of northern San Diego, according to the Escondido Police Department.

It happened after a police pursuit that began at about 4 p.m. in the North County city and ended in a collision on the southbound side of the freeway. At some point, police opened fire on the vehicle. SKY 10 footage shows an individual being rushed to a hospital by paramedics.

No other injuries were reported and police have not released further details of the incident, including how the pursuit began.

The person's identity has not been released.

The shooting caused a complete closure of the southbound lanes of I-15 that lasted from Friday afternoon until around 11 a.m. Saturday, California Highway Patrol reported on X.

"Following notification by local authorities, DOJ's California Police Shooting Investigation Team initiated an investigation in accordance with AB1506 mandates," Bonta said in a statement. "Upon completion of the investigation, it will be turned over to DOJ's Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review."

Anyone with information related to the shooting is asked to call (916) 210-2871.

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