SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Authorities are investigating a complicated crime scene in downtown San Diego after a suspect reportedly threatened to kill his mother, barricaded himself inside his fourth-floor apartment, tossed items at police officers below and lit his room on fire before several officers entered and shot the man.
The suspect died at the hospital, according to Lt. Juan Marquez with the San Diego County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit.
Police said, around 1 p.m. Tuesday, they received reports of a man, armed with a knife, assaulting and threatening to kill his mother.
“I heard him just yelling and screaming, just being very aggressive with what he was saying," said Jackie Pollack.
Pollack is next-door-neighbors with the suspect and his mother at the Cedar Gateway Apartments on 6th Avenue and Cedar Street. She told ABC 10News walked to a common room on a different floor while this was unfolding to escape the chaos.
“Listen I’ve talked to the guy before. Short hello, goodbyes, and, I would have never guessed that he had a problem. That he was ill," Pollack said.
The Psychiatric Emergency Response Team was called to the scene, according to police.
After officers arrived, the suspect began tossing items, including kitchen appliances, from his room at the officers below.
Lt. Marquez said two San Diego Police vehicles were hit by the debris, leaving one with a shattered windshield from a microwave, and the other with damage to its side-view mirror.
At some point, one officer was hit with an object in his face but was not injured, Lt. Marquez said.
Ellie Ramos, who was in the area shopping for wedding dresses, said her car was caught in the crosshair.
“Our car was literally in the mix of everything," she said. "It’s right behind us, with all the debris and everything this guy was apparently throwing out the window.”
Lt. Marquez said the suspect barricaded himself inside his apartment, placing objects in front of the door to prevent officers from getting inside.
Then, police said the suspect set his room on fire. Everyone in the building was forced to evacuate.
Officers eventually broke into the home and several of them fired their weapons, shooting the suspect around 3 p.m. The suspect was taken to the hospital where he died, according to investigators.
Lt. Marquez said the mother was also taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries related to the assault.
“She’s very nice. Works hard. Good Christian woman. The last person that deserves to have to suffer," Pollack said.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office will be leading this investigation.
