SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A man thought to have a gun was shot and killed by San Diego police, in an incident that snarled traffic in Mission Bay Park Saturday.
The chain of events that led to the fatal shooting began about 9:15 a.m. when patrol officers were called to the 1700 block of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard on a report a man was threatening to shoot another man, San Diego police Lt. Jorge Duran said. Witnesses saw the suspect get into a silver Volkswagen sedan and drive north toward the San Diego River bridge, he said.
San Diego police spotted and stopped the vehicle north of the bridge, where SeaWorld Drive changes into Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, according to Duran.
Officers called for the man to put his hands up, but he ignored their commands and walked to the car's passenger side, reached between the seats and retrieved a brown and silver object, Duran said. The suspect then allegedly raised the object and pointed it at the officers, according to the lieutenant.
One of the officers, an 11-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, fired his duty weapon and struck the suspect, Duran said. Officers later located a gun in the suspect's vehicle, he added.
The suspect was taken to a hospital and later died, Duran said. His name was withheld pending family notification.
Traffic heading between Ocean Beach and Mission Bay Park was temporarily blocked, with northbound traffic diverted east onto Interstate 8. Traffic heading towards Ocean Beach was diverted onto Sports Arena Boulevard.
The interchange where West Mission Bay Drive, Ingraham Street, SeaWorld Drive, Sports Arena Boulevard and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard was heavily congested. But patrons were able to access the SeaWorld parking lots from SeaWorld Drive, police said.
A SigAlert was issued but traffic was flowing freely shortly before 1:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.