An off-duty Border Patrol agent fired shots at shoplifting suspects in the parking lot of a popular Chula Vista strip mall Tuesday morning, according to officials.
On Wednesday, Chula Vista police identified the off-duty agent involved as Anthony Arocho, a two-year Border Patrol veteran stationed in New Mexico.
Late Tuesday night, officers recovered what they believe to be the getaway car in the 800-block of 44th Street in Chollas View. Police said there were two smalls holes in the car that appeared to filled with putty and spray painted.
Shots were fired in the parking lot of the shopping center in the 500-block of Telegraph Canyon Road just after 11 a.m.
According to police, it all started with an alleged shoplifting incident at a nearby Rite Aid store.
Witnesses said they saw two Rite Aid employees chasing a person out of the store, into the parking lot and to a vehicle.
Arocho happened to be in the parking lot and saw the commotion. Police said he identified himself as law enforcement and ordered the shoplifting suspects to get out of the car.
According to police, the car backed up, striking the agent, and started to speed away. Arocho told police he was worried the car would hit a group of pedestrians, so he fired two shots at the car.
The suspect vehicle still managed to flee the scene. As of Wednesday night, no one had been arrested in connection to the shooting.
Initial reports said a woman and child were spotted in the back seat of the getaway car.
The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not yet determined if anyone in the getaway car was hit by the bullets fired by the agent. Police also checked local hospitals.
For now, police said they have surveillance video captured inside that Rite-Aid store that may help them identify the shoplifting suspects.
The Chula Vista shopping center, located just off Interstate 805, includes a Vons grocery store and a McDonald's restaurant.
Officers were in front of the Starbucks and T-Mobile stores around 11:15 a.m., moments after the reports of a shooting.
Arocho was not injured.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-691-5151.
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