The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and San Diego Police Department are continuing an investigation into a College Area homicide Jan. 17.
This past Tuesday shortly before 4 p.m., the San Diego Police Communications Center received a radio call reporting a violent disturbance at a local pharmacy in the 5500 block of Reservoir Drive. Officers from Eastern Division were dispatched and arrived within minutes.
Upon arriving, they found the business was locked but there was a female victim inside. Officers forced entry into the pharmacy and found a female suffering from multiple stab wounds to her upper body. Officers performed life saving measures until paramedics from San Diego Fire-Rescue arrived. The female was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of officers and medical personnel, the female was pronounced deceased at the hospital at 4:46 p.m.
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’s helicopters.
When contacted, the suspect reportedly failed to comply with instructions prompting officers to deploy less lethal bean bag rounds, which had no effect. The suspect then reached for what appeared to be a shotgun from inside his vehicle. An officer involved shooting occurred involving two officers from the San Diego Police Department. There is Body Worn Camera footage of the incident. Despite lifesaving efforts by paramedics, the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Sheriff’s Department is conducting the investigation into the officer-involved shooting and will be the agency responsible for providing further 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 the female’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.
The deceased female has been identified; however her name is not being released at this time pending family notifications. She is described as a 66-year-old white female. The suspect has been identified; however, his name is not being released at this time pending the investigation of the officer involved shooting. He is described as a 77-year old white male. There are no other suspects in this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
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