A San Diego Police Officer opened fire on a suspect outside a 24-hour pharmacy in Mission Valley overnight, killing the man he said was approaching him in a very threatening manner, officials said.
The officer was called to the CVS Pharmacy on Friars Road and Mission Center Road just after midnight for a report of a man chasing an employee with a box cutter.
Investigators say the man was told several times to put the box cutter down.
The 54-year-old man was shot and killed about 20 feet from the entrance of the store. His identity was being withheld until family can be notified, officials said.
“As the officer was retreating, the suspect continued to advance on the officer. And as the suspect got very close to the officer, the officer fearing for his own safety fired multiple rounds at the suspect striking him,” Captain David Nisleit with SDPD’s Homicide Unit.
The officer was identified as a 15-year veteran. He was wearing a body camera and it was recording, officials told NBC 7.
San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman was on scene just after the shooting talking with investigators.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
