A man was shot by El Cajon police during an investigation into a stolen car from out of state, the department said Wednesday.
The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was shot at least once in the torso following an altercation at about 9 a.m. at S. Johnson Avenue just south of El Cajon Boulevard, near the Church of Christ, the El Cajon Police Department said.
The man was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his wounds and was described to be in "stable" condition.
Police were initially alerted to the stolen vehicle by an out-of-state agency. They went to S. Johnson Avenue after a tip that the vehicle would be found there, the El Cajon Police Department said.
When they arrived, they found the man asleep in the driver's seat. The man awoke when police attempted to approach the man.
Police called for the man to put his hands up but the man refused, instead reaching towards his waistband and yelling phrases like "Shoot me before I do it," according to ECPD.
That's when an officer, who has not yet been identified, fired two rounds at the suspect, striking him at least once.
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"I heard was like three gunshots and then the cops yelling stay down stay down," said Pheobe Nocita, a neighbor in the area.
The suspect still did not comply with officers, police said. Eventually, he showed his hands and was taken out of the vehicle.
D'Angelo Lee, a neighbor, told NBC 7 that he was driving down the street when he saw a man on the ground and police. He later saw that man being taken by ambulance.
No officers were injured in the altercation, ECPD said.
Investigators were at the scene for several hours combing for evidence. No gun was ever found in the suspect's car, ECPD said.
A portion of S. Johnson Avenue was blocked off to traffic during the investigation. At around 2:30 p.m. a car was seen being towed away from the scene and lanes were reopened shortly after.
This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.
