Police shot and killed a man Friday who they say took out a handgun and shot at officers after leading them on a short chase near Chicano Park.
At around 11:30 p.m. San Diego Police officers conducted a traffic stop at the 1800 block of Logan Avenue. Officers pulled over a red Dodge Ram truck for a lighting equipment violation. Officers contacted the driver, who has been identified by police as Christopher DeArman. During the traffic stop, DeArman sped away leading police on a short chase for about two blocks.
DeArman came to a stop near the 2000 block of Logan Avenue and exited the vehicle with a handgun, San Diego County Sheriff Lt. Chris Steffen said. DeArman then pointed the handgun at officers and fired two rounds at them, according to video surveillance and evidence collected at the scene. One of those bullets impacted the hood near the driver's side of the officer's patrol vehicle, Steffen said. It was then that officers returned fire and DeArman fell to the ground. Officers ordered him to move away from the handgun but did not comply prompting SDPD to use a police K9 to pull him away from the gun. Officers rendered aid to DeArman who was then taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
No officers were injured. The names of the officers involved in the shooting will be released at a later date.
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NBC 7 spoke to DeArman's sister who was at the scene where the shooting took place.
"I know how it looks on TV, how it may seem, but trust me he’s a wonderful person. He has a heart of gold. The best brother, and protector." said Patricia DeArman. "He was wonderful and he was a kind person with a good heart. And I know we all have issues but this is not right."
Patricia said she was on the phone with her brother before the incident took place. She was able to track his cell phone near Chicano Park when she realized her brother had died.
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Since officers from San Diego police were involved in the shooting, the case will be investigated by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
No other information was available.
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