SAN DIEGO—A 62-year-old man who pointed a gun at firefighters during a blaze at an apartment complex aimed that same weapon at arriving police officers before taking his own life with a single gunshot wound, authorities said.
Officers were dispatched to a possible apartment fire in the 11200 block of Tierrasanta Boulevard at about noon on June 4, said Lt. Chris Steffen of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
They reported that firefighters saw smoke coming from an apartment and forcibly opened the front door to find the suspect sitting on a couch. He pointed a handgun at firefighters, who retreated from the apartment, Steffen said.
Officers, positioned in the hallway of the apartment, fired at the man after he pointed the gun at them while he exited the apartment, Steffen said.
“The man ran back into his apartment, out of his back patio and down a walkway behind the apartment complex,'‘ he said. ”Officers on the perimeter of the apartment complex heard what sounded like a single gunshot outside of the complex.’’
A helicopter overhead saw the suspect lying motionless on the walkway.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Sheriff’s officials urged anyone with information regarding the incident to call them at 858-285-6330.
