SDPD shoot man during chase involving e-biker in Balboa Park
Gunfire rang out in the western section of Balboa Park on Tuesday afternoon when at a San Diego police officer shot at a man 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.
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 San Diego Sheriff’s Department is investigating the shooting per a memorandum of understanding among local law enforcement agencies.
Early on Wednesday, SDSO sent out a news release stating that during “the pursuit, the male turned toward the officers and fired one round from a firearm. In immediate response, one San Diego police officer discharged multiple rounds, striking the suspect.”
The man who was shot was conscious and breathing after he was hit, according to SDPD’s watch commander, who said he had been taken to the hospital. No officers were injured during the incident.
Park visitor Roger Ogden snapped a photo of the injured man when he was on a gurney heading toward an ambulance. To witnesses, he appeared to be smiling.
“A bystander said he was smiling,” Ogden told NBC 7. “I didn’t see that because I was looking through my phone lens. He didn’t look like he was hurt too bad.”
San Diego County Sheriff’s Homicide Lt. Juan Marquez said that, despite the officer firing multiple rounds, the man’s wounds were not considered serious.
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, then gunfire was exchanged.
“Five or six [shots], I would say,” Ogden said.
Gunfire in Balboa Park is rare, of course.
“It was like so random,” a witness named Isaac said. “It was like, ‘Oh! what the hell was that?”
To some, it’s a wake-up call to the city.
“Maybe the parks should be better patrolled,” Ogden said. “It needs to be safer.”
Investigators said they recovered 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.
It’s still unknown why the man was initially approached by SDPD.
