Allegedly armed man critically injured after Escondido police shot him

A possibly suicidal man who allegedly charged a police officer outside an Escondido halfway house Tuesday while armed with a knife and a two-foot-long stick was severely wounded when the lawman responded by opening fire on him, authorities said.

The events that led to the gunfire began shortly before 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, when officers responded to reports that a man had intentionally cut himself with a knife at the sober-living and community re-entry facility in the 100 block of South Elm Street, according to the San Diego Police Department.

The SDPD investigates shootings involving personnel with the Escondido Police Department under terms of a countywide agreement designed to prevent conflicts of interest.

“Officers arrived on scene and evacuated the facility,” SDPD Lt. Lou Maggi said. “They contacted the (man) and saw that he still possessed the knife.”

The personnel tried for about an hour to persuade the man to disarm himself and surrender, but he refused and eventually stopped communicating with them. He then locked himself in a restroom, according to police.

“Because the negotiations were not successful and the man had not threatened harm to anyone other than himself, officers made the decision to de- escalate the situation by leaving the otherwise vacant facility,” Maggi said.

At about 4:20 a.m., police got word that the man had exited the restroom and was walking around the property of the halfway house, now carrying a roughly 24-inch-long stick along as well as the knife.

One of the officers who had responded to the initial call was the first to arrive back at the location, where he armed himself with a gun that fires a so-called “less lethal” 40mm rubber projectile and positioned himself in an alley next to the facility while awaiting the arrival of backup.

Before more officers got there, however, the suspect appeared in the alley, holding the piece of wood, according to police.

“The officer gave commands for the man to drop the stick,” Maggi said. “The man refused … and charged at the officer. The officer transitioned to his handgun, yelled for the man to stop, and then fired several shots, striking him multiple times.”

Paramedics took the man to a hospital, where he remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon. His name was not immediately available.

“The stick and a knife with a broken blade were located at the scene of the shooting,” the lieutenant said.

The other residents at the transitional housing were safely evacuated.

“I ended up hearing like 10 gunshots go out, just round after round,” said Timothy Walker, who lives in the area.

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