Kidnapping Leads To Shooting Incident At San Diego Marathon

SAN DIEGO, CA -- A woman who may have kidnapped a man in Chula Vista before allegedly disrupting a popular San Diego marathon during a shooting incident was arrested Sunday. Police said the bizarre string of incidents began Sunday morning when Chula Vista police received a call from a man who said he had been kidnapped, bound and gagged by a woman.

At about the same time, a woman with the same description was involved in a hit-and-run traffic crash around 10:45 a.m. near the intersection of West A Street and Kettner Boulevard, San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit said.

About five minutes later, a woman suspected of being involved in the crash pulled her car into Civic Center Plaza Parkade, near the intersection of A Street and First Avenue, close to the finish line of the Rock 'n' Roll marathon, a race that included nearly 5,000 runners.

An officer tried to make contact with the woman, and she pointed what appeared to be a black handgun at him, Nisleit said.

"She had a gun in her hand most of the time during this incident," he said.

One officer fired "multiple rounds," at the woman, though she was apparently not injured. One officer accidentally shot himself in his leg, and was taken to a hospital, Nisleit said. The officer is expected to make a full recovery.

The woman threw her weapon -- which is now believed to be an Airsoft pellet gun -- down onto the pavement below the garage before she was arrested, Nisleit said.

The shooting frightened nearby residents and runners who took to Twitter to say they heard gunshots in the area. Other Twitter users said they were told to shelter in place.

The course was shut down by 11:45 a.m., and about 4,900 athletes were rerouted to a designated safe zone, according to a statement from the Rock'n'Roll Marathon. Police allowed runners to resume their progress toward the finish area a few minutes later, at 11:53 a.m.

The marathon has been held in San Diego for more than 20 years and typically attracts thousands of runners and onlookers.

The race kicked off just after 6 a.m. Sunday with a course that spiraled throughout the city and ending in downtown.

The San Diego Padres also issued a statement saying San Diego police have confirmed it is safe to proceed with Sunday's 3:10 p.m. game at Petco Park, around a mile away from the incident.

--City News Service contributed to this report/Photos courtesy of P.J Quezada

Helicopter advises man is still in their sight - acting "crazy" at the corner of the building. #sandiego #downtown advising responders on the ground to use caution as gunman has a line on them. The elevators have been shut down. Staging at fire station nearby
— Debbie Terry (@debbie858) June 3, 2018

Runners stopped, crowds moved, and heavy police presence after gunshots heard just before finish line at San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon #RnRSanDiego
— David Rojas (@drdavidrojas) June 3, 2018