An armed suspect was shot in the leg when Chula Vista Police officers returned gunfire after a short-lived vehicle pursuit in Spring Valley, authorities said Friday.
Officers from the Chula Vista Police Department responded around 5:25 p.m. Thursday to reports of domestic violence involving a firearm in the city.
While investigating the initial call, the officers were directed to a vehicle possibly being driven by the suspect, according to Lt. Cesar Jimenez, a public information officer with the San Diego Police Department.
Officers attempted to contact the driver and ordered him to stop, but the driver fled the scene, initiating a pursuit and almost striking an officer in the process.
Police said the pursuit ended when the driver collided with a vehicle occupied by two people near the intersection of Sweetwater Road and Tyler Street in Spring Valley. One of the occupants from the vehicle was taken to a hospital with minor pain, but was released shortly afterward.
“The suspect exited his vehicle and shot at the pursuing officers with a handgun as he attempted to escape. One officer and one sergeant returned fire, striking the suspect in the leg,” the SDPD said in a statement.
The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was taken by paramedics to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police reported.
After being discharged from the hospital, he was booked into the county jail on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, the SDPD said.
No officers were injured.
Authorities urged anyone with information regarding the pursuit or shooting to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
— City News Service
