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.
Park visitor Roger Ogden snapped a photo of the man fleeing police when he was on a gurney heading toward an ambulance. To witnesses, he appeared to be smiling.
“A bystander said he was smiling. I didn’t see that because I was looking through my phone lens. He didn’t look like he was hurt too bad,” Ogden said.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Homicide Lt., Juan Marquez, said despite one of the two police officers in pursuit firing multiple rounds, the man’s wounds were not life threatening.
Lt. Marquez said the man on the bike was stopped on Balboa Drive for reasons not immediately known, then ran from police. The two central division patrol officers chased him into the west side of the park near Banker’s Hill.
In that pursuit path, deep tire impressions are visible on the soft ground. Just before the edge of the hill, it became a foot chase. The cyclist fired once at the two officers. One of them fired back.
“Five or six, I would say,” Ogden said.
By most accounts, gunfire in Balboa Park is rare.
“I have no idea why. It was like so random. It was like oh, what the hell was that?” said witness Issac.
To some, it’s a wakeup call to the city.
“Maybe the parks should be better patrolled, it needs to be safer,” Ogden said.
Investigators said they recovered the bike and a gun at the scene. The suspect is being held pending several charges including assault with a deadly weapon and possibly attempted murder of a police officer.
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.