EL CAJON, Calif. (KGTV) – A police detective and a suspect were hospitalized after a shooting took place in an El Cajon neighborhood late Wednesday evening.
At around 10:15 p.m., San Diego County sheriff’s deputies followed a van towing a trailer that was reported stolen into a neighborhood in the 1100 block of Decker Street. El Cajon Police officials said uniformed deputies were asked by Regional Auto Theft Task Force detectives to conduct a traffic stop.
According to El Cajon Police, the van’s driver -- identified as 31-year-old Erik Talavera -- got out of the vehicle and was armed with a knife.
Deputies “gave verbal commands” to Talavera, but police said he did not comply. Police said that “during the confrontation, both deputies discharged their firearms, striking Talavera.”
After performing life-saving measures at the scene, paramedics took Talavera to an area hospital. Police said Talavera underwent surgery for gunshot wounds and he “is currently in stable condition and is under guard at the hospital for charges stemming from the incident.”
According to police, a National City Police detective who was part of the Task Force “sustained a minor, non-life-threatening gunshot wound.” The injured detective was taken to the hospital for treatment.
El Cajon Police detectives are investigating the incident.
