SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – An investigation was launched after a woman was shot by law enforcement officers during an Auto Theft Task Force operation on Monday evening, San Diego Police said.
SDPD officials said the officer-involved shooting took place at around 8:45 p.m. in the 4600 block of Collwood Boulevard.
According to police, members of the San Diego County Regional Auto Theft Task Force arrived in the neighborhood after locating a 1998 Ford Econoline van that was reported stolen.
In a press release, police detailed the incident: “When task force members approached the van, they realized that someone was inside the vehicle. That person was later identified as a 32-year-old white female. The task force members identified themselves as police and asked the woman to exit the vehicle. They were using red and blue lights on their vehicles and wearing tactical vests identifying their agencies.
As the woman exited the vehicle, she produced what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it at officers. Two members of the task force, a San Diego Sheriff Sergeant and a Chula Vista Police Officer, fired their service weapons at the woman, striking her multiple times. At that point, she dropped the handgun and was taken into custody.
Officers immediately began rendering lifesaving aid until paramedics arrived. The woman was transported to a local hospital where she remains in stable but critical condition. She is expected to survive her injuries. The identity of the woman is not being released at this time.”
The SDPD Homicide Unit, brought in to investigate the officer-involved shooting, recovered a handgun at the scene that was determined to be a replica firearm.
SDPD officials noted, “As the task force is a plain clothes assignment, there are no body worn camera recordings of the shooting.”
While the names of the task force officers involved in the incident were not immediately released, SDPD officials said the sheriff’s sergeant is a veteran of the department of about 14 years. The Chula Vista Police officer involved has been with the department for almost four years.
Officials said the County District Attorney’s Office will review the SDPD Homicide Unit investigation once it is completed.
The sheriff’s department and CVPD will conduct their own respective probes into the incident.
