Man dies from injuries following officer-involved shooting in El Cajon

EL CAJON (KUSI) — Tuesday 10:00 p.m. — The man involved in the shooting passed away as a result of his injuries, according to El Cajon police.

"The El Cajon Police would like to assure the community that a complete and thorough investigation will be completed. We have already contacted the District Attorney’s Office so that they can conduct their concurrent investigation and their representatives are already on scene," according to a released shared by the El Cajon Police Department.

Protesters gather at El Cajon Police Department following death of Alfred Olango

The unidentified man walked in traffic and failed to follow the patrol personnel’s "directives,” leading to a confrontation that ended in gunfire, when the man pulled something from his pocket and held it at shoulder level with two hands, in what looked like a shooting stance, El Cajon Police Department Chief Jeff Davis said at a news conference tonight.

Davis did not disclose what the object was, but said no firearm was recovered.

Bystanders reported hearing about five shots.

One officer fired at the man and another officer deployed a Taser, but it was unclear if it hit its target. The officers, each with more than 20 years of service, will be placed on administrative leave for at least three days, as per protocol, Davis said.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311. Individuals with information on this incident who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477. 

Investigation continues into shooting of ‘erratic’ man in El Cajon

9:15 p.m. — The man shot by El Cajon police officers has been identified as 30-year-old Alfred Olango, per reports from family members.

7:09 p.m. — Lt. Rob Ransweiler declined to disclose if the man, believed to be about 30 years old, was armed with any type of weapon and would not release further details about the encounter, instead promising a "thorough and complete investigation … to ensure that what happened here today was appropriate.”

Several witnesses alleged that the officers were unduly quick to open fire and suggested that their actions had been influenced by the fact that they
were dealing with a black man, one they described as mentally challenged.

One man angrily told reporters the victim was suffering a seizure prior to the shooting, and another described seeing him with his hands raised at the moment the shots sounded.

Over the late afternoon and early evening, a growing crowd of protesters arrived at the shopping center. Many of them shouted angrily and profanely about what they characterized as a racially motivated police shooting, and others took part in impromptu prayer circles.

Ransweiler said no additional officers had been immediately deployed in case the gathering grew unruly or violent.

5:30 p.m. — Police opened fire on a seemingly irrational man who allegedly failed to comply with their commands at an East County strip mall Tuesday afternoon, sending him to a hospital with injuries of undisclosed severity and prompting accusations that the gunfire was racially motivated.

The unidentified man failed to follow the patrol personnel’s "directives,” leading to a confrontation that ended in gunfire, Lt. Rob Ransweiler told reporters. Bystanders reported hearing about five shots.

Ransweiler declined to disclose if the man was armed with any type of weapon and said he could provide no information on the suspect’s condition.

Several witnesses alleged the officers were quick to open fire and suggested that their actions had been influenced by the fact that they were dealing with a black man, one they described as mentally challenged.

Over the late afternoon, a small but vocal gathering came together at the shopping center, some shouting and protesting what they characterized as a racially motivated police shooting.

The lieutenant said no additional officers had been immediately deployed to handle a potentially unruly crowd.

4:45 p.m. — A man was hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after reports of an officer-involved shooting in El Cajon.

According to El Cajon police, at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, they responded to a man acting erratically at a shopping center in the 800 block of Broadway.

Police said the subject failed to comply with their orders, which subsequently lead to shots being fired.

The man has been transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries.

The suspect’s name was not immediately available.

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.