SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Latest on the shooting of two police officers in San Diego.
The San Diego police chief has released the names of an officer who was killed in a shooting and a partner who was wounded late Thursday.
Chief Shelley Zimmerman said Friday that the slain officer was 43-year-old Jonathan Deguzman, a 16-year veteran of the department with a wife and two young children.
The wounded officer is 32-year-old Wade Irwin, a nine-year veteran who is married.
Zimmerman says the department is seeking "to find answers to the senseless murder and attempted murder of our police officers."
The officers reported they were making a stop and almost immediately called for help. It's unclear if they were stopping a car or a pedestrian.
The incident started around 11 p.m. Thursday night.
San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said that the police officers were making a stop and requested "emergency cover" from other officers. When the officers arrived on scene, they found both officers had been shot multiple times in their upper bodies.
"The investigation is ongoing right now as to exactly what happened,'' Zimmerman said at an early morning news briefing outside Scripps Mercy Hospital. "We don't have enough information at this point.'' One officer suffered multiple bullet wounds and was taken in another officer's vehicle to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest, where he later died despite the "heroic efforts'' by police and doctors to save his life, according to the Chief Zimmerman. Zimmerman said she and other officers notified his wife, two children and extended family members of his death. The second officer was taken by ambulance to another local hospital, underwent surgery for at least one gunshot wound to his upper body and is expected to survive, according to San Diego police.
Around 7:15 a.m. Chief Zimmerman said that the officer is out of surgery, but he is not yet awake. His wife remains by his side and is hopeful he will make a full recovery. The couple has a 19-month-old baby.
Neither officer's name was immediately released. Zimmerman said "our gang suppression team officers put their lives on the line every day to make sure that our citizens are safe in San Diego,'' she said. Local officials and other law enforcement agencies came out to show their support early Friday morning. "Last night we lost one of San Diego's finest,'' San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said in a statement. "We grieve for our fallen officer and stand with his family during this very difficult time. We also pray for the second officer shot last night as he recovers from surgery.'' A suspect, who was also wounded by gunfire, was taken into custody in a ravine area in the 1300 block of South 38th Street and was hospitalized, Zimmerman said. It was not immediately clear if the shooter acted alone. Residents of the 3800 block of Boston Avenue were told to shelter in place as officers continued to search the area for a possible second suspect. Faulconer called for support of law enforcement officers nationwide. "Violence against the men and women who wear the badge is violence against us all,'' the mayor said. "I ask all San Diegans and all people across our nation to join together in support of our officers who courageously protect our communities. We need them and they need us.'' The San Diego officer killed Thursday night becomes the third San Diego police officer killed since 2010. Officer Chris Wilson, 50, was shot to death during a probation raid at a Skyline-area apartment complex. San Diego police Officer Jeremy Henwood, 36, was fatally shot by a suicidal man who pulled up alongside his cruiser on University Avenue at 45th Street on Aug. 6, 2011.
Even Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump responded to the shooting, saying via Twitter “Two policemen just shot in San Diego, one dead. It is only getting worse. People want LAW AND ORDER!''
The shooting in Southcrest comes less than two weeks after a man with ties to San Diego fatally ambushed officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, killing three and wounding three others. Five officers in Dallas were also killed by a gunman earlier this month.
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