A gunman was shot and killed by San Diego County sheriff’s deputies responding to a trespassing call in a residential neighborhood of Spring Valley early Friday evening.

San Diego County sheriff’s deputies shot multiple times at the suspect, who pointed a gun at officers, following the nearly two-hour incident at a home where children were present.

Police said the suspect, described as a 34-year-old man, has been identified but his name will not be released at this time. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident began around 3 p.m. Friday, when sheriff’s deputies were called to the Spring Valley home near Leland Avenue and Davenrich Avenue.

According to San Diego police, the woman who called to report the trespasser said her ex-boyfriend had entered the home through the back door, was armed and was acting erratically. He told law enforcement that he was experiencing mental problems and was under the influence.

San Diego police have not yet determined whether the suspect had drugs or alcohol in his system while they await the toxicology report.

Police said the woman also had four children in the home. San Diego police homicide Lt. Jud Campbell said the children ranged in age from teenagers to 6 years old.

When deputies arrived, they met the woman at the front of the home and entered the home to safely remove the children while the suspect was in the backyard.

When deputies approached the side of the house and attempted to make contact with the suspect around 4:30 p.m., the suspect fired at least two shots into the backyard. Police said deputies retreated to the street and the man returned to the home.

Detectives are still trying to piece together what the man was doing inside the house, while police say evidence shows the man likely fired from the front door of the alley and “went outside several times and waved the gun randomly.”

Police said just before 5 p.m., the suspect walked out the front door, raised a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at deputies. Seven sheriff’s deputies opened fire and struck the suspect multiple times, authorities said.

Officers provided medical aid, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. No police officers were injured during the incident.

Deputies wore body cameras and law enforcement helicopters circled overhead for much of the incident, authorities said.

San Diego police are investigating the death and shooting of sheriff’s deputies under a nationwide protocol designed to prevent departments from investigating incidents involving their own officers.

First Publication Date: November 16, 2024 14:45 PST