Man Dies After Sheriff’s Sergeant Opens Fire at Descanso Rest Stop

A man has died after a sheriff's sergeant opened fire on him Wednesday in a Descanso area park-and-ride location. The man, identified as 52-year-old Craig Peterson, was a suspect in the fatal stabbing of a man in his Borrego Spring home early Wednesday morning, according to authorities. 

The Borrego victim, a 72-year-old white male, has not been identified pending notification of his family.

Medical aid was called to the park-and-ride location off Highway 79 south of Interstate 8 in the Descanso/Japatul area after the shooting, which happened at about 1 p.m., according to Sheriff's Lt. Marco Garmo and a news release. 

Garmo stated that the vehicle the man was driving fit the description of the reported stabbing suspect’s vehicle.

The Borrego victim was fatally stabbed Wednesday in the 2100 block of Borrego Hills Road at about 7 a.m., sheriff's Lt. Jim Walker said earlier Wednesday. The victim was reported to have died at the scene but lived long enough to tell authorities who stabbed him.

According to a Channel 10 report, some vehicles are still being held at the park and ride Wednesday night until the scene is processed, which could take hours. The suspect's body is still reported to be in the bed of a light blue truck at the scene, where he was shot. It was reported that he appeared to pull a firearm on the sergeant before the shooting occurred. Investigators are still searching the area for evidence including a weapon and any ammunition.

City News Service contributed to this report.