SAN DIEGO - A suspect in the fatal shooting of a man at an Orange County motel and the kidnapping of a 23-year-old woman last week was shot early Thursday morning by Anaheim police in Old Town.
The father of the kidnapped woman, Brianne Deese, told Anaheim police Wednesday night that she called him from San Diego and said she escaped her captor. The suspect, Luke Theodore Lampers, a 35-year-old transient, was wanted in connection with the slaying of 49-year-old Douglas Navarro at the Crystal Inn in Anaheim on Jan. 11, just before the alleged kidnapping took place.
Deese was found safe, according to Anaheim police.
"Detectives and investigators responded immediately and located the victim," Anaheim Police Sgt. Daron Wyatt said. "The continuing investigation led them to a motel in the 4000 block of Taylor (Street) in San Diego where Lampers was believed to be."
San Diego police responded to assist as Lampers was seen arriving at the motel in a vehicle, Wyatt said.
"Investigators from the APD Crime Task Force attempted to contact Lampers and a brief foot pursued ensued at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred," Wyatt said.
Police did not say exactly what prompted the shooting, which occurred about five minutes after midnight. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
Lampers was struck by the gunfire and was taken to a hospital. Anaheim police said he was expected to survive.
The shooting investigation will be handled by the San Diego Police Department, Wyatt said, adding that the Anaheim Police Department's Major Incident Review Team would conduct a concurrent administration investigation.
Lampers is suspected of gunning down Navarro at the motel on Lincoln Avenue where he was living and where his mother also lived and worked as a maid and in maintenance.
Deese was staying with someone at the motel and apparently left with Lampers and returned sometime later. She was trying to get into a room where she was staying to retrieve some personal belongings when Navarro intervened to say she wasn't registered at the motel as a guest in that room, Wyatt said.
Lampers apparently saw an animated discussion between the two and allegedly shot Navarro, Wyatt said.
Then Lampers -- at gunpoint -- told Deese to leave with him, Wyatt said.
Deese's family made public pleas last week asking Lampers to turn himself in and let Deese go.
