Two San Diego officers shot, one fatally
AP on July 30, 2016, 1:55 pm
Two San Diego police officers have been shot - one fatally - after a late-night stop turned into a gunfight, triggering a manhunt that led to the capture of one wounded suspect in a ravine and an hours-long SWAT stand-off.
Friday's stand-off ended after officers detained a second man who may have been involved.
The shooting came as departments around the country are on high alert following the killing of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this month. San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said it was unknown whether the San Diego attack was premeditated.
The events unfolded over more than 12 hours in a blue-collar area of southeastern San Diego.
It started about 11pm on Thursday when two veteran gang unit officers in bulletproof vests stopped a person on a street. Almost immediately a shootout ensued and the officers called for back-up.
Authorities initially said the officers made a traffic stop involving a motorist, but clarified later they were still trying to determine whether it was a traffic stop or a stop to check a pedestrian.
"It happened extremely quickly," Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said.
Jonathan DeGuzman, a 16-year veteran of the force who was married with two children, was shot several times and the 43-year-old died at Scripps Mercy Hospital.
Wade Irwin, 32, underwent surgery after being shot and was expected to survive, Zimmerman said.
Police swarmed the neighbourhood where the shootout happened and quickly captured 52-year-old Jesse Gomez in a nearby ravine, Zimmerman said. He was in a critical condition Friday with a gunshot wound but was expected to survive.
During the search for a second man described as a "potential" suspect, residents were ordered to stay in their homes throughout the night as San Diego police and officers from other law enforcement agencies scoured yards, streets and alleys. A helicopter hovered overhead.
Zimmerman said late on Friday afternoon officers arrested a man in the area on an unrelated warrant.
Police were investigating to see whether 41-year-old Marcus Antonio Cassani had any role in the shootings.
After visiting Irwin at UC San Diego Medical Center early Friday, Zimmerman told reporters the officer's prospects for recovery were good. The nine-year veteran of the force had just joined the gang unit in June.
