Two officers were shot and injured by a gunman in a shootout near San Diego State University, according to reports.
The suspect, who was wearing body armor, opened fire on the officers as they entered an apartment on Saturday night, NBC San Diego reported.
“As you can imagine, last night was a rough night for the San Diego Police Department,” Chief David Nisleit said on Sunday. He said that police responded to a “disturbance with violence” at 10:15 p.m.
When they knocked on the door, there was no response. And, “as soon as they opened the door, they were met with gunfire,” Nisleit said. “Officers made a decision to open the door. Before they did that they, though, they knocked on the door and asked the occupant to respond,” he told the Times of San Diego.
“There was no response so the officers opened the door,” he continued. “Upon opening the door, they were met by gunfire.”
Two officers were struck, one several times, he said.
“We have responded numerous times to this location over the last several years,” Nisleit said, adding that the suspect had an “extensive criminal history.”
It’s unclear if the suspect was struck by police gunfire, he said.
The Times reported that the suspect was identified as a man in his 30s.
“It is believed that he was probably lighting something on fire, but until we get inside and take a look at the apartment, we do not fully know that,” said Nisleit. He added that the caller to police “heard cursing being thrown about.”
A SWAT team was called in to confront the barricaded suspect. The standoff lasted two hours.
“We had to do quite a few evacuations,” Nisleit said.
He said on Twitter Sunday that the two officers are slated to make a recovery.
He tweeted: “I’m thankful that our officers are expected to make a full recovery. I’m grateful to all of our San Diego County Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies who responded to our call for help last night. I ask that you please send your prayers to our injured officers and their families as they begin their road to recovery.”
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