Officer-involved shooting in Oak Park leaves one suspect dead

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A suspect who got into a scuffle with two officers following a brief foot chase in Oak Park Friday afternoon was fatally wounded when one of them opened fire, authorities reported.

The events that led to the fatal shooting began about 3:40 p.m., as the patrol personnel tried to contact the man in the 2900 block of 54th Street, according to San Diego police.

The suspect became “extremely agitated” and bolted, and the officers gave chase as he fled to the east, Lt. Matt Dobbs told reporters.

After running into the street and through a patch of shrubbery, the man faced off with the officers and began grappling with them, Dobbs said.

During the struggle, one officer felt the suspect grab his service pistol and yank it off his belt, still in its holster, according to Dobbs. The officer alerted his partner, who then fired a single round at the man.

The unidentified suspect, who appeared to be in his 30s or 40s, died at the scene, Dobbs said.

It was not immediately clear why the officers decided to attempt to initially contact the man.

Police closed traffic lanes around the site of the shooting to allow investigators to gather evidence. The closures were expected to continue into the late evening.