One man is dead and three police officers, plus a police K-9, were recovering on Wednesday after a San Diego Police shooting in the North Park neighborhood, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.
A man was shot by police and taken to the hospital where he later died, according to SDSO Lt. Marquez.
The 4000 block of 30th Street and Polk Avenue between Kansas and Ohio Streets would be closed to all traffic through the evening, according to SDPD. By about 8:30 p.m., the roads were reopened.
One man is dead and three officers along with a police K-9 are recovering after a police shooting in the North Park neighborhood. 30th Street is still closed and investigators say it is likely to remain that way into the evening. NBC 7’s Dana Williams has the story.
NBC 7 | Roberto Castanares
A police officer stands next to yellow tape outside of where a shooting occurred in North Park. (NBC 7 | Roberto Castanares)
NBC 7
SDPD cars surround the corner of 30th and Polk Ave in North Park after responding to a call Wednesday morning. (NBC 7)
Officers responded to a disturbance call at about 9 a.m. Wednesday near El Cajon Boulevard and Oregon Street, according to Marquez.
Upon arrival, they observed what they said was a man acting violently with a metal rod and breaking vehicle windows, prompting a foot pursuit, according to Marquez.
The man then barricaded himself inside Adult Emporium, an adult entertainment store on 30th Street, while carrying an incendiary device and flammable liquid. Officers attempted to negotiate with the man, but he refused to exit.
A police K-9 was then sent in and was burned by the man on its neck and hind legs. The injured dog was rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital and released about three hours after, Marquez said.
The man then moved toward the front door of the business with the incendiary device. One officer then shot multiple rounds and hit him at least once, according to Marquez.
Piper Whittington and Jonah Grube were down the block working from home when they heard what was going on.
“All the sudden, I heard yelling. I saw like a crap-ton of cop cars coming over and they were blocking streets,” Whittington said.
Marquez added that, at some point, the man, “was able to catch himself on fire,” and was seen in a video sent to NBC 7 being pulled out of the building by officers with what appeared to be flames on his torso.
Three people and a police K-9 were injured Wednesday during a shooting involving San Diego police officers in the North Park neighborhood. NBC 7’s Dana Williams is at the scene.
Three SDPD officers minorly burned their hands when providing medical aid to the man and were treated at the hospital, according to Marquez.
Paramedics then arrived and took the man to the hospital where he died just before 12 p.m.
The officers sustained burns to their hands and were treated a hospital before being released.
It is not yet confirmed if any people were inside the business before the shooting occurred. Damage to the building, if any, is also not yet confirmed.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will be taking over the investigation. San Diego County law enforcement agencies have a memorandum of understanding that prevents departments from investigating shootings involving their own officers.
This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.