An investigation into a deadly stabbing at a College Area pharmacy led San Diego police to an East County home Tuesday night, where a suspect was fatally shot by officers after brandishing what appeared to be a shotgun, investigators said Wednesday.
San Diego police officers were first called around 4 p.m. to a “fight” at a pharmacy at 5555 Reservoir Drive, next to Alvarado Hospital in the College Area. When officers arrived, they found a 66-year-old pharmacist locked inside with multiple stab wounds, said the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, who is investigating the case due to a policy that prevents law enforcement from conducting their own officer shooting investigation.
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The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead, SDPD said.
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"I seen a couple people running inside. I seen an older guy saying he was looking for his wife and she was just stabbed," said witness Benny Montoya.
Witnesses provided a license plate to investigators, leading them to the suspect's address on La Cresta Drive in the Crest community, which is in unincorporated El Cajon.
SDPD found the suspect, a 77-year-old pharmacist, near a vehicle in the backyard of the home. That encounter ended with the officers opening fire on the man.
Marivel Sullivan lives a couple hundred feet from the suspect’s home. She heard what sounded like gunfire. Sheriff’s investigators told NBC 7 when police arrived, there was an altercation with the homeowner. He was in his backyard in possession of a shotgun.
“I saw police with a shotgun going like this over there, I thought oh my god, what is going on?" said Marivel Sullivan, a neighbor.
They first tried a less lethal force to subdue him.
“Bean bags were deployed initially with no effect ultimately. Like I said, the officers did fire their duty weapons. One handgun and one rifle," said Lt. Chris Steffen from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Homicide Department.
No officers were injured in the incident and the stabbing suspect did not fire at officers, officials said. The shooting was recorded on the two officers' body cameras, investigators said.
San Diego police haven’t determined a motive but said this was not a theft or robbery. They have not yet released the names of the suspect or victim.
"We’re still working to determine what their exact relationship is. At this point our understanding is they are both employees or possible co-owners of this local pharmacy," said SDPD Lt. Steve Shebloski.
Since officers from San Diego police were involved in the shooting, the case will be investigated by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
