NATIONAL CITY, Calif. (KGTV) -- A man suspected of firing shots at National City police officers following a traffic stop early Monday morning is also accused of shooting at bounty hunters in Chula Vista last month, police said.
According to National City police, Christopher Marquez was inside a white Honda Civic that officers pulled over outside a Jack in the Box restaurant in the 700 block of Roosevelt Avenue at around 2:45 a.m. Police said the car was reported stolen.
As officers surrounded the car, which was stopped outside of the restaurant's drive thru, police ordered the evacuation of the restaurant and the parking lot.
The driver and a passenger got out of the car and were detained, but National City police said: "A rear passenger exited the car and fled on foot refusing to comply with officer’s commands. Two officers gave chase after the male, who ran onto the on ramp of E. 7th Street for northbound Interstate 5. The suspect turned toward the officers and fired multiple gun shots at the officers. Both officers returned fire and the suspect continued to run westbound across the freeway. At this moment, it is unclear if the suspect was struck or is injured. The two officers involved were not injured."
On Monday afternoon, National City police identified the suspected shooter as Marquez. A search was launched for Marquez, but he has not been located.
Police described Marquez as a Filipino male, 5'8" tall and weighing 190 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo on the right side of his face and on the top of his chest.
The 36-year-old Marquez allegedly shot at two bounty hunters outside of a Chula Vista residence on March 15, injuring one of them, before fleeing the area.
Monday night, ABC 10News spoke to Agent Clark, who was hurt in the shooting in Chula Vista. Agent Clark was hospitalized for several days after the shooting and he has months of recovery ahead. Clark described the night of the shooting as a "war zone."
Clark was shot in the bicep and left leg, fracturing one of the bones, it is too early to tell if there will be any long-term nerve damage to his body. The agent says he's not surprised Marquez has allegedly struck again and says he hopes the suspect is caught before someone else is hurt.
Agent Clark has set up a Go Fund Me to help with this recovery medical expenses. If you want to help, click here.
