SAN DIEGO, CA – Chaos erupted in San Diego’s downtown area today as a morning shooting spree resulted in three fatalities, including the perpetrator, and left a police officer injured. The violence commenced around 8:30 a.m. when a man and woman in their 30s were gunned down in a parking lot. Authorities quickly ascertained that this was a deliberate attack.
The suspect, described by witnesses as donning tactical gear, fled the initial scene and was later encountered by police in the vibrant Little Italy district. A gunfight broke out near Kettner Boulevard and Juniper Street, a location teeming with locals and tourists. The suspect, who was dating the female victim, was shot and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. A San Diego Harbor police officer sustained a hip wound and is anticipated to recover fully.
Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying moments as the suspect engaged in the shootout. Banna Lofb, who works at a nearby eatery, described the panic as she and her coworkers secured the premises and sought shelter. “We were petrified, not knowing what was happening outside,” she recalled.
The initial shooting scene on Union Street has left the neighborhood in shock. Witnesses observed the suspect reload his firearm before escaping. The victims, a 39-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, were both killed while seated in their vehicle, police confirmed.
San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit reassured the public that there is no lingering threat, affirming that the suspect acted independently. “Our officers’ swift actions undoubtedly saved lives,” he noted in a press briefing.
The investigation is ongoing, with detectives carefully reconstructing the sequence of events and collecting testimonies. The motive remains a mystery, but authorities are determined to uncover the circumstances leading to this tragedy.
The wounded officer, new to the department, has become a focal point of community support. Harbor Police Chief Mónica Fernández expressed gratitude for the overwhelming public support and highlighted the officer’s determination. “He’s in good spirits and surrounded by loved ones,” she said.
The incident has cast a shadow over San Diego, yet there is a prevailing sense of unity as the community aims to heal and support those impacted by the day’s violence.