A pursuit in the East County early Thursday morning ended with a man dead in a law enforcement officer-involved shooting, one person taken into custody and another on the run.
Sheriff's officials said La Mesa police spotted a Ford sedan with a door open stopped at a green light at the intersection of Fletcher Parkway and Baltimore Drive at about 1:20 a.m. When an officer approached the car, a scream was heard coming from inside and the door was immediately closed. The vehicle then sped away, officials said.
San Diego police and sheriff's deputies joined La Mesa police in pursuit of the vehicle from La Mesa through Spring Valley and into Lemon Grove.
Officials said the car pulled over in the 2100 block of Rebecca Way, where three men got out and ran away.
According to officials, one of the men was spotted jumping over a fence, followed by what sounded like gunshots. A short time later, deputies and officers spotted the same man behind a home and released a K-9. As the dog was biting the man, he began shooting at deputies and officers, prompting two La Mesa officers, one SDPD officer and a sheriff's deputy to return fire.
"While engaged with the K-9, the suspect fired multiple rounds from a handgun at the law enforcement officers," SDSO Lt. Kenneth Nelson said.
The man was struck by gunfire and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was found to be in possession of a handgun, officials said.
Sheriff's officials said one man was taken into custody but another -- described as black or Middle Eastern wearing a white shirt -- remains on the loose.
Officers and deputies set up a perimeter in the area and were scouring backyards looking for the man, described as wearing white clothing, who was still at large after 10 a.m. and no longer believed to be in the area. Police did not know if he was armed but said he could be dangerous, and asked anyone who saw him to call 911.
Authorities were waiting for a warrant to search the Ford, 10News learned.
The shooting involved two La Mesa police officers, one San Diego police officer, and a San Diego County sheriff's deputy, according to Nelson said. Their identities are expected to be released early next week.
Detectives from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's homicide detail are investigating the deadly shooting.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call 858-974-2321, or after hours at 858-565-5200. Those with information on the case could also contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or contact the agency online at sdcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
