A high-speed chase ended in a deadly officer-involved shooting at a North County casino Saturday evening, Escondido police confirmed.
The chase began in a residential neighborhood in Escondido just after 7:30 p.m. Saturday, when Escondido Police Department (EPD) officers responded to a call reporting a disturbance.
When officers arrived, the man they believed was a suspect took off, said the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO), who was handling the investigation into the shooting. It was not clear what he was suspected of.
As the chase approached the Valley View Casino & Hotel, west of Valley Center, EPD called the SDSO and San Pasqual Tribal Police for backup.
That's when the suspect pulled into the entrance to the casino and stopped near the valet area, SDSO Lt. Rich Williams said. A confrontation ensued. The details of the confrontation were not released.
At least one officer fired shots and the suspect was struck, Williams said. Medics took the man to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Williams said a possible handgun was recovered at the scene.
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No law enforcement officers or bystanders were hurt, Williams said, but patrons of the casino were shaken. The casino remained open during the investigation, but many chose to leave.
"We were in the dining room area and everyone was terrified," casino patron Michael Arracon told NBC 7. "Everyone was running. We all exited through the back room. Thank god everyone was calm and it was an intense situation."
Mike Hall lives near the casino and said he heard the sirens. "We looked out back and there were just 10 cop cars initially that just flew into the casino," he said.
SDSO's Homicide Detail is handling the investigation.
This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.
