Two Escondido police officers were hurt and a suspect was shot in the foot by police after a pursuit through North County, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.
Officers received reports that someone was shooting a gun in a residential Escondido neighborhood off E. El Norte Parkway and Ash Street just before 1:30 a.m., the Escondido Police Department said.
When police identified the vehicle believed to be involved, a white Dodge Charger, the driver took off leading officers on a chase on northbound Interstate 15.
Police later identified the suspect as Jose Martin Torres from Oceanside.
At one point, a tire deflation device was used, which punctured the vehicle's tires. The suspect was forced to exit on Deer Springs Road where he got out of his vehicle and tried to make a run for it, SDSO said.
During the foot pursuit that ensued, Torres allegedly began firing backward toward officers, EPD said.
Officer Adam St. John then returned fire, police later confirmed, striking the suspect in the foot.
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St. John has worked for EPD for two-and-a-half years.
Torres was taken to Palomar Hospital with minor injuries and has since been released into police custody, SDSO said.
St. John and another officer were hurt at some point during the police pursuit. It was not clear if the officers were struck by gunfire or injured in another capacity. Both were treated at Palomar Hospital and released, SDSO said.
A gun was located at the scene.
The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation and several detectives from the EPD and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department were at the scene to determine what happened.
Torres is being held at the Vista Detention Facility without bail. He faces one charge of attempted murder in the first degree.
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