Suspect, National City detective shot during stolen-vehicle investigation in El Cajon

Two sheriff’s deputies opened fire during a traffic stop in El Cajon Wednesday night, injuring a 31-year-old man they said was armed with a knife and a National City police detective working on a stolen-vehicle investigation, authorities said.

The shooting was reported in a cul-de-sac at Ballard and Decker streets around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday night when members of a regional auto-theft task force asked uniformed deputies to pull over a van towing a stolen trailer.

During the “high-risk vehicle stop,” the driver exited the van armed with a knife, said El Cajon police Lt. Randy Soulard. The man didn’t comply with orders from the deputies to drop the knife.

Both deputies fired their guns, hitting the suspect, Soulard said.

Deputies administered CPR until paramedics arrived. He was transported to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. He was reported in stable condition and “under guard at the hospital,” Soulard said.

A National City police detective — assigned to the Regional Auto Theft Task Force that was conducting the stolen-vehicle investigation — was also shot during the incident, police said.

The detective sustained what was described as a “minor, non-life-threatening gunshot wound” and was also transported to a hospital, police said.

El Cajon police detectives were investigating the shooting, which happened in their jurisdiction. No El Cajon police officers fired weapons during the incident, Soulard said.

Officials were tight-lipped in the hours after the incident occurred, releasing few details about who was shot and what led up to the gunfire. More than 13 hours after the shooting, the El Cajon department issued a statement.

When asked for more detail about how the National City detective was shot, Soulard replied: “As you know, these types of investigations are very laborious and comprehensive. What we released this morning is what we are comfortable with at this point in the investigation.”