SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A man is facing multiple charges following a shooting that left a San Diego Police officer injured in the Barrio Logan neighborhood early Monday morning.
According to the San Diego Police Department, 21-year-old Andrew Garcia is charged with attempted murder of a police officer, felony evading, auto theft, reckless discharge of a firearm into an inhabited dwelling, and a felon in possession of a firearm.
It started around 12:15 a.m. on Dec. 12 when officers spotted a black Toyota 4Runner in the 3500 block of Main Street that was reported stolen. When officers tried to pull the vehicle over, Garcia sped away and led them on a pursuit for miles, entering several local freeways, including State Route 905 in the South Bay.
Once the vehicle exited Ocean View Boulevard from State Route 15, a female passenger got out of the SUV. The passenger was detained by officers, but the vehicle got back onto SR-15.
SDPD says the SUV went into Lemon Grove before it eventually returned to the Mountain View area and stopped in a parking lot on 35th Street and Logan Avenue at around 1:30 a.m. Garcia then ditched the stolen car in an apartment complex in the 900 block of 45th Street and officers began chasing him on foot.
During the chase, Garcia allegedly turned and fired at an officer as he was coming around the corner of the apartment building, striking him multiple times. Other officers on the scene immediately helped the wounded officer and provided emergency medical aid.
Following the shooting, Garcia ran to the 1000 block of South 44th Street and ran inside a vacant townhome. San Diego officers set a perimeter and other units were called to the scene to assist, including SWAT and Emergency Negotiations Team (ENT).
Authorities say after having a standoff with Garcia for several hours, they saw that he was down on the ground, prompting SWAT officers and a police service dog to enter the vacant home.
As they were preparing to take Garcia into custody, police say they noticed that he was in medical distress and was possibly overdosing on narcotics. He was given naloxone (Narcan) and Garcia was revived before he was taken to a local hospital where he is receiving treatment.
According to detectives, they were able to investigate the incident by reviewing any video footage that captured the incident, including surveillance video from the scene, Body Worn Camera, and police helicopter footage as well as checking the area for witnesses and physical evidence. They were able to recover a “Ghost gun” handgun and numerous spent shell casings at the scene where the officer was shot.
An SDPD Watch Commander confirmed to ABC 10News that the injured officer was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital where he underwent surgery. Police say he is recovering from his injuries and is expected to survive.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
