Cops: Ralph's Staff Tackled Wine Crooks

A deadly officer involved shooting all started with a stolen bottle of wine, according to police.

A stolen bottle of wine led to a violent struggle and ended in a deadly officer involved shooting outside a grocery store late Thursday night.

Officers were called to the Ralph's Supermarket on G Street at 11:45 p.m. When they arrived they saw several people trying to detain two men.
 
β€œSome of the citizens appeared to be employees of Ralph's Supermarket,” San Diego Police spokesperson Terry McManus said.

The officers intervened and tried to control the alleged wine thieves. 

β€œDuring the struggle, one of the suspects resisted the efforts of police officers by kicking at them,” McManus said.

The officer tried to hit one of the suspects with a baton, but he managed to free himself, pulled out a knife and made a stabbing motion about 5 feet away from the officer, according to police.

β€œThe officer, fearing that he was about to be stabbed by the suspect, removed his service weapon and fired two rounds at the suspect,” McManus said.

The suspect collapsed a short distance from the shooting scene and was transported to UCSD Trauma Center where he later died.

The remaining suspect was taken into custody and booked into jail on one count of robbery.  He has been identified as 18-year-old Joseph Kidis. 

A third suspect fled the scene shortly after the call for police. He is described as 6 feet tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds.  The suspect was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with black writing on the front, and blue colored basketball shorts.

The officer who fired his weapon is a 3-year member of the police department,
McManus said.

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