ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) – A man reportedly armed with a gun at an Escondido transit center was shot and critically injured by a police officer following a foot chase and confrontation Wednesday night.
The San Diego Police Department said the incident unfolded at around 7:38 p.m. at the transit center on 700 West Valley Parkway.
Escondido Police dispatched officers to the area after receiving a call from a witness regarding a person who pulled out a gun at the transit center.
When responding officers spotted the man and tried to contact him, the man ran eastbound across Quince Street onto a bike path, SDPD officials said.
As officers pursued him, the closest officer ordered the man to stop and “drop items he was holding in his hands,” officials stated.
SDPD officials added, “After running approximately 100 feet down the bike path, the suspect turned quickly towards the closest officer with what appeared to be a firearm in his hand. The officer fired his duty weapon multiple times, striking the suspect who went to the ground. Officers rendered aid until paramedics could arrive and transport the suspect to the hospital.”
The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Antonio Rosales, sustained multiple gunshot wounds but was expected to survive. As of Thursday afternoon, he remained hospitalized.
Rosales was placed under arrest on suspicion of brandishing a weapon in the presence of an officer and resisting arrest, SDPD officials said.
Under San Diego County protocol, SDPD Homicide Unit detectives are investigating the officer-involved shooting aspect of the incident.
According to SDPD officials, detectives later determined that the weapon the man was holding was a “revolver style BB gun.”
Per San Diego Police, “The officer who fired his weapon has been employed by Escondido Police for approximately three years and is currently assigned to patrol. He was wearing a body worn camera that was activated at the time of the foot pursuit and shooting.”
