Shots fired; race is held up
SAN DIEGO — A woman armed with a pellet gun apparently fired several shots from a parking structure in downtown San Diego early Sunday, prompting a massive police response and several street closures near the finish line of a popular marathon, authorities said.
The suspect, who may be connected to a kidnapping in Chula Vista, was arrested without incident, San Diego police Chief David Nisleit said. Police later determined the weapon was an airsoft rifle.
The incident prompted the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon to be closed for about 30 minutes, officials said. About 4,900 participants were redirected to City College.
The incident started with a call about a misdemeanor hit-and-run crash near West A Street and Kettner Boulevard about 10:50 a.m., said San Diego police Sgt. Tom Sullivan.
About the same time, police were informed that a man in Chula Vista had escaped an apparent kidnapping. The assailant matched the description of the female driver in the hit-and-run crash.
“We believe these two incidents are going to be tied together,” Nisleit said. Police did not elaborate on the kidnapping.
A short time later, the woman was spotted near the San Diego Concourse, a parking garage at 100 West C St., police said. As she pulled into the garage, she pointed what appeared to be a gun at the officer behind her, authorities sai.
The officer shot at the woman, but she was not struck, police said. Another officer accidentally shot himself during the incident and was taken to a hospital, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.
It’s unclear what prompted the initial shooting, but Nisleit said the crew of a police helicopter thought they observed the woman firing from the garage onto the street below.
The chief also said the woman threw her weapon over the side of the parking garage onto A Street.
She was ultimately taken into custody.
A number of streets surrounding the parking structure were closed as patrol officers descended on the area. And the area between B and C streets and First and Front were blocked to all non-emergency traffic.
By 12:20 p.m., traffic was open on Broadway and being directed by police.