San Diego was rocked by a chilling series of events Wednesday morning, leaving three people dead, including the suspected shooter, and a police officer in the hospital with a gunshot wound. It was a terrifying start to the day in the usually vibrant Little Italy neighborhood, where people were going about their morning routines.
The chaos began around 8:20 a.m. near Ash and Union streets. A man, who police later confirmed knew his victims, approached a parked car and fired multiple shots at the two people inside—a 39-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman. Witnesses described the scene as surreal and horrifying. Don Stevenson, who had just arrived at a nearby job site, said, “A guy walked right up to the car, shot them, and then took off running.”
Officers arrived quickly, pulling the victims from the car and performing CPR, but it was too late. Both lives were lost in what police now believe was a targeted attack. San Diego Police Lieutenant Jud Campbell later confirmed that this wasn’t random. “These individuals knew each other,” he said. “There was a motive behind this, and we’re working to figure out exactly what it was.”
What followed was a frantic manhunt. A description of the suspect—a man in a hat, green shirt, and blue jeans—was shared with officers and broadcast by helicopter units. Around 9 a.m., a citizen flagged down Harbor Police officers near Juniper Street and Kettner Boulevard, saying they’d spotted someone hiding behind an electrical box who matched the suspect’s description.
Officers moved in cautiously, calling out commands to the man. Instead of surrendering, he started shooting. Bullets flew as two officers returned fire, hitting the suspect, but not before one officer was struck in the thigh. That officer, who had only been on the job for three months, was rushed to UC San Diego Medical Center for surgery. Fortunately, the officer is expected to recover.
The suspect, however, didn’t survive. He was hit multiple times and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Police recovered a semi-automatic handgun and shell casings at the scene.
The investigation is now in full swing, with two teams piecing together what happened at both crime scenes. Lieutenant Campbell assured the public that police have identified everyone involved, all of whom are local to San Diego. “Our goal is to understand the how and why behind this tragedy,” he said.
The violence didn’t just shake up the neighborhood emotionally—it brought practical disruptions too. Streets near both shooting locations were cordoned off, with police urging people to steer clear of the areas while they worked.
The incident could have been much worse, according to Police Chief Scott Wahl. “This is a busy area, full of people walking around, grabbing coffee, living their lives,” he said during a morning press conference. “We’re fortunate more lives weren’t lost.”
One nearby restaurant worker described hearing the gunshots and dropping to the ground in fear. “I stayed there for what felt like forever,” they said, sharing photos of their car, which had been struck by stray bullets.
Harbor Police Chief Magda Fernandez commended her team’s bravery during such a high-stakes situation. She visited the injured officer before his surgery and said he was awake, alert, and in good spirits. “Today, these officers saved lives,” she said, highlighting the dangers that come with wearing the badge.
For now, the investigation continues as San Diego tries to make sense of the shocking events that unfolded in broad daylight. Police have assured the public there’s no ongoing threat, but the scars of the day’s violence will take time to heal.
