OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) – A man suspected of killing a woman in an Oceanside home led law enforcement on a pursuit and later died after he exchanged gunfire with pursuing officers early Friday morning.
San Diego Police -- who are involved in the officer-involved shooting investigation -- stated Oceanside Police officers were dispatched to a home in the 500 block of Fredricks Avenue at around 11:56 p.m. Thursday due to a reported family disturbance and reports of shots fired.
Responding officers found a 34-year-old Black woman shot to death in the home and they learned the suspected shooter -- identified as a 28-year-old Black man with whom the victim was in a relationship -- fled the scene.
ABC 10News learned there were four children in the home, ranging from 5 to 17 years of age, at the time of the incident but they were not harmed.
At around 2 a.m. Friday, the suspected gunman’s vehicle was located on Interstate 15 and Winchester Road in Temecula, and when Riverside County sheriff's deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop, the driver sped away and led them on a pursuit.
The chase eventually made its way back into Oceanside when the driver pulled into a strip mall in the 500 block of Vandegrift Boulevard.
In a media briefing, San Diego Police Homicide Unit Lt. Jud Campbell said, “The driver exited the vehicle, he produced a firearm and began shooting at the officers.”
Campbell said an Oceanside Police officer and a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy returned fire, and then the driver ditched the car and fled through the parking lot.
A short time later, officers located the suspected gunman at the intersection of Gold and Sol drives, and they determined he was deceased. Police believe the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
San Diego Police said, “It is unclear if he was struck by officers’ rounds. The San Diego County Medical Examiner will make the ultimate determination on the suspect’s cause of death and injuries.”
At least one law enforcement SUV was struck by bullets, but no officer injuries were reported.
While Oceanside Police investigate the fatal shooting at the Oceanside home, the SDPD Homicide Unit was brought in to handle the officer-involved shooting aspect of the probe.
According to San Diego Police: “The Oceanside Police officer has been employed by Oceanside Police for approximately nine years. He is currently assigned as a canine handler.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy has been employed by Riverside County Sheriff’s Office for approximately two years. He is currently assigned to patrol.”
