Authorities have arrested a second suspect accused in the attempted murder of an undercover San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officer near Skyline, the department confirmed Friday.
SDPD Lt. Ray Valentin said San Diego resident Larry Jones, 30, was taken into custody Thursday in the 1600 block of Oro Vista Road for his alleged role in the shooting of an SDPD Gang Unit detective.
On Monday, at around 10:45 p.m., an unknown suspect stepped out of a white Toyota Corolla and fired several shots at a plainclothes SDPD detective who was in an unmarked vehicle near Glencoe Drive and Jamacha Road in the Jamacha Lomita area.
SDPD officials said the detective was following up on information of reported gang activity in the area. The undercover detective was not injured by the gunfire, but his car was struck several times by the bullets.
SDPD officers responded to the area and found the suspect’s vehicle traveling west in the 7700 block of Jamacha Road. Patrol officers pulled the car over. During the traffic stop, a man jumped out of the car and started to flee, running through backyards in the neighborhood.
At that moment, SDPD officials said a patrol officer fired one round from his service weapon toward the fleeing suspect. Officials still don’t know if that suspect was injured by the gunfire.
Officials said the officer who fired his weapon is an eight-year veteran of the department. They said the officer opened fire because he feared for his life and safety of others.
Three other people inside the suspect’s vehicle – two men and a woman, Kimberly Denise Hooker, 31 – were arrested at the scene on various charges. Hooker is facing one count of attempted murder for her alleged involvement in the shooting. She’s scheduled to appear in court on May 16. The two men were booked into jail for weapon charges and violating their probation.
Jones, now the fourth suspect in this case, is set to appear in court Monday.
The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information can call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
The names of the undercover detective and officer who opened fire have not been released.
