San Diego Shootout Leaves 2 Officers Wounded, Suspect Dead
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A man opened fire on police and firefighters at a San Diego condominium, wounding two officers and sending bullets into nearby units before he was found dead, authorities said Sunday.
Police Chief David Nisleit said the two male officers were expected to recover, with one in serious condition and the other with less serious injuries, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported .
"It's the worst call you can ever get," Nisleit told reporters. "When you get that call, your stomach just sinks, and you're just hoping that nobody dies."
He didn't release the names of the wounded officers, saying one of them has three years of experience on the force and the other has 18.
Three officers had responded to a report of a violent disturbance and knocked on the door. They got no response but smelled what they believed was smoke and called the fire department, police said.
They forced open the door, and "they were met by gunfire," Nisleit said.
Two officers fired back in a gunbattle that sent bullets into nearby condos. Authorities evacuated people from the complex and sent in a robot to check on the suspect, whose name wasn't released.
Police found him dead, but it was not clear if he died in the shootout or killed himself. Nisleit said officers have been called to the condo in the past, but he did not elaborate.
Matthew Bezrouch, who lives a few doors down, told the newspaper that he heard at least 20 rounds after officers tried to enter the condo.
"It was fast," Bezrouch said. "They were screaming, 'Two officers down, bleeding!'
He said he heard one last gunshot after more officers arrived.
Megan Ashdown, 23, and her boyfriend, William Blood, 24, said they heard 15 or more shots as they watched TV.
"We got in bed, locked the door and turned out the lights," Ashdown said. "We were too scared to look out the window."
Police later got the couple out.
