By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–A 62-year-old man died from a self-inflicted gunshot after he pointed a firearm at fire crews and police officers responding to an apartment fire Saturday in Tierrasanta, authorities said.
San Diego police officers responded just before noon to the 11200 block of Tierrasanta Blvd. to assist the San Diego Fire Department with a possible fire in an apartment. Fire crews saw smoke emitting from an apartment and forcibly opened the front door. A man sitting on a couch inside the apartment pointed a handgun at the firefighters. They immediately retreated from the apartment.
Officers were positioned in the hallway of the apartment. The man exited the apartment, pointed a handgun at the officers, and three officers fired at the man. The man ran back into his apartment, out his back patio, and down a walkway behind the apartment complex. Officers on the perimeter of the apartment complex heard what sounded like a single gunshot outside of the complex. Air Born Law Enforcement helicopter was flying overhead and observed the man lying motionless on the walkway. Officers approached the man and determined he was dead. No officers were injured in the incident.
The Medical Examiner has scheduled an autopsy on the man on Sunday.
The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is investigating the incident.