A San Diego police officer injured in a deadly officer-involved shooting was hit by another officer's bullet and not by the suspect, San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said.
Officer Heather Seddon, a five year veteran assigned to the Northern Division, suffered a bullet wound to the neck and shoulder on Sunday, May 17.
After an extensive investigation, San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said the bullet lodged into Seddon's shoulder came from an officer that was involved in a gunfire exchange with suspect Dennis Richard Fiel, 34, of San Diego, wanted in connection with firing a gun at buildings in Kearny Mesa.
"The results of the lengthy and thorough investigation revealed the round that struck officer Seddon was fired by a San Diego Police Officer that was actively engaged in an exchange of gunfire with Fiel," Zimmerman said in a statement.
Zimmerman said the investigation also revealed the bullet may have struck another object or person prior to striking the officer. "However, this could not be forensically proven or disproven as a result of our extensive investigation," she said.
The incident started as a high speed pursuit early that Sunday morning, when a gray late model Jeep heading southbound on State Route 163 did not yield to lights and sirens while driving approximately 90 miles per hour, Lt. Mike Hastings said in May.
Officers lost sight of the suspect's car on State Route 163 at the Mesa College Exit. When additional officers assisted, officials found the suspect's car near the 7700 block of Mesa College Drive.
The license plate linked the car to one that had been used in several shootings throughout the City of San Diego over the last several weeks, Hastings said.
The incident turned into a foot pursuit when officers saw a man walking a short distance from where they found the car and officers approached him. The man being chased showed a gun and began firing at officers near Highway 163 at Health Center Drive, Hastings said.
Two officers "fired several rounds" at the suspect, Hastings said, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two body cameras were on during the incident and footage "captured the entire incident," Acting Captain Mike Hastings said in May. Seddon's camera and Hodge's camera were both on during the incident. The footage will now go to the District Attorney's Office for the investigation.
Two additional officers responded to the scene. Officer Joshua Hodge, a four-year veteran assigned to the Northern Division, and officer Mario Larrea, a five-year veteran assigned to the Eastern Division, both responded.
