La Mesa Police Shooting Leaves Burglary Suspect Dead

LA MESA, CA — Investigators worked Monday to piece together the series of events that led a La Mesa police officer to fatally shoot a gun- wielding suspect over the weekend in a neighborhood near the junction of Interstate 8 and state Route 125.

The patrolman and a fellow officer spotted the 41-year-old man, who was the subject of a felony burglary warrant, standing next to a vehicle in a parking lot at a condominium complex in the 8000 block of University Avenue about 4:15 p.m. Sunday, according to the San Diego Police Department, which investigates law enforcement shootings in La Mesa under the terms of a countywide agreement.

When the officers approached the suspect, he allegedly pulled a 9mm pistol and pointed it at one of them.

"It appears the suspect tried to fire at the officer multiple times, but the firearm malfunctioned," SDPD Lt. Steve Shebloski said.

The suspect then ran off, and one of the officers fired on him.

"As the suspect continued to run toward University Avenue, it appeared (he) was trying to ... clear the firearm of the malfunction," Shebloski said.

The patrolman then fired again, wounding the suspect in the upper body and causing him to collapse and drop his gun. Despite lifesaving efforts on the part of the officers and paramedics, he died at the scene. His name has been withheld pending family notification.

The encounter resulted in no other injuries, though a passing vehicle and a building were struck by gunfire, the lieutenant said.

The officer who fired on the suspect has been with the La Mesa Police Department for about six years. He has been placed on paid leave pending completion of investigations in the case, as is routine in instances of law enforcement shootings.

City News Service