Gunfire rang out in the western section of Balboa Park on Tuesday afternoon when at least one San Diego police officer shot at a male who, at some point during the pursuit, was on an e-bike.
Officers in a patrol car gave chase across the grass to the east of the 2900 block of Balboa Drive near Quince Street before coming to a stop where the canyon begins to drop off, with the riding trail below.
San Diego police had cordoned off part of the park during the incident on Tuesday afternoon. (NBC 7 San Diego)
Witnesses told NBC 7 that officers got out of their vehicles and then and gave foot chase for 20-30 feet before the witnesses said they heard shots fired. By some accounts, it was between four and six rounds that were discharged.
The person being chased was conscious and breathing, according to SDPD’s watch commander, who said that the person had been taken to the hospital. In fact, witnesses told NBC 7 that he was smiling as he was wheeled on a gurney to a waiting ambulance. It’s not clear at this point if he was struck by gunfire or was injured in some other way.
The suspect was taken into custody, SDPD wrote on X at 5:07 p.m. No officers were injured and there is no ongoing threat to the public, the agency added.
It’s not yet understood why the officers were chasing the person. No officers were injured in the incident, according to the watch commander.
It’s not clear if the person being chased was shot or hurt some other way, but he was taken to a hospital afterward, reports NBC 7’s Dave Summers.
NBC 7
NBC 7
The scene in Balboa Park was marked off with caution tape on Tuesday afternoon. (NBC 7 San Diego)
Map courtesy of Google Earth
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department will be investigating the shooting per a memorandum of understanding among local law enforcement agencies.
This is a developing story and details may change as information becomes available — Ed.