The San Diego Police Department has identified a Lakeside woman as the deceased individual from a Tuesday stabbing at a College Area pharmacy.

Mary Ellen Carter, 66, was fatally stabbed Tuesday afternoon at the Alvarado Pharmacy located at 5555 Reservoir Drive. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 4:46 p.m.

Officers from Eastern Division were dispatched and arrived within minutes of the 3:55 p.m. radio call for help.

Upon arriving to the pharmacy, they found the business was locked but there was a female victim inside. Officers forced entry into the pharmacy and found Carter suffering from multiple stab wounds to her upper body. Officers performed life-saving measures until paramedics from San Diego Fire-Rescue arrived.

As officers responded to this call and conducted their preliminary investigation, they learned the suspect had fled the area in a larger, dark colored SUV. The officers also obtained a detailed physical description of the suspect, including his name and a possible home address, which was in the 800 block of La Cresta Boulevard in unincorporated El Cajon. The officers coordinated with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department to check that address utilizing patrol deputies and police and sheriff helicopters.

Shortly afterwards, the suspect was contacted by officers and deputies and an officer-involved shooting occurred involving two officers from the San Diego Police Department. The Sheriff’s Department is conducting the investigation into the officer-involved shooting and will be the agency responsible for providing details on that investigation. San Diego Police Homicide Detectives were called to the scene of the stabbing death of the female and are currently investigating the incident.

It is still early in the investigation and little is known about the circumstances leading up to Carter’s death, other than it appears the suspect and victim were either co-owners or employees of the business where this incident occurred and for unknown reasons, the suspect attacked the victim. According to Corporationwiki.com, Carter was president for Alvarado Pharmacy Services, Inc.

The suspect’s identity will be released by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department as part of their investigation into the Officer Involved Shooting that occurred shortly after this homicide.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Editor’s note: Authorities later identified the suspect as 77-year-old Frank Brower. Brower was shot and killed by two SDPD officers outside of his home after fleeing the scene of the stabbing. The officers involved in the shooting are Officers Salvador Laurel-Torres and Robert Raynor. Laurel-Torres and Raynor have been employed with the San Diego Police Department for seven years. Both officers are currently assigned to Eastern Division. As in all officer-involved shootings, the officers in this case are currently on administrative assignment until they are cleared to return to full duty.

Photos credit: Karen Austin