San Diego

1 Hurt, 1 Outstanding, in Officer-Involved Shooting Near Linda Vista Day Care: PD

One suspect is still outstanding in an officer-involved shooting near a child care center in San Diego's Linda Vista neighborhood.

The shooting happened at approximately 2:15 p.m. Tuesday on the 2100 block of Ulric Street, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

The location is right off the busy Linda Vista Road, near a library and the Vine Childcare Center. The Linda Vista Presbyterian Church and a U.S. Post Office are also nearby. 

Two witnesses told NBC 7 they saw some sort of confrontation between an older man and two younger people. 

SDPD Capt. Brain Ahearn said a witness also reported seeing a fight between three men outside a taco shop on Ulric Street and then heard a gunshot.

An officer responding to the incident pursued the two suspects on foot after the suspect description given by the witness matched.

Both men initially complied with the officer's command but at one point, one man produced a handgun and threatened the officer, Ahearn said.

The suspect then fled towards the day care center, attempting to climb over the fence. Another officer joined the pursuit.

“As the suspect was attempting to climb the fence, armed with a handgun, he posed a significant threat to the children, and the staff," Ahearn said.

In an attempt to stop him, the officers shot the suspect, hitting him on the finger, according to Ahearn. The suspect then threw the handgun across fence, where it was later recovered by police.

“The officers literally had no time to provide any kind of warning to the staff members to bring the children into a place of safety," Ahearn added.

Both officers were not hurt. They had body-worn cameras which were turned on during the shooting, Ahearn said. 

The suspect has been identified as 48-year old Ferdinand Gangano Alarcio. He was booked into San Diego County Jail on multiple charges.

The other suspect has not been arrested yet.

Oscar Marin, the owner of the day care center, said his two adult sons were inside of the day care when he received a call from his son. His son told Marin a suspect jumped the day care fence.

“I’m concerned that there’s shooting coming toward our day care. There’s 100 students in there. That was our concern,” he said.

He said at the time of the incident, children and teachers were inside; the children were asleep. All children and teachers are okay. 

“I’m upset this took place at a daycare where there are children," Marin said.

Ahearn said the officers did not have time to warn staff members to bring children to safety. 

The business, which has been in Linda Vista since 2007, has surveillance cameras.

At the time of the incident, there were about 100 children and 15 teachers inside. Parents were asked to pick up their children at a secondary location on the other side of the school, off Ulric Street. 

Because of the police activity, MTS bus route 120 will detour in both directions. The stops on Comstock and Linda Vista Plaza are temporarily closed. 

The incident is under investigation.

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