Crime & Safety

UPDATE 2: Shooting at San Ysidro Pedestrian Border Crossing

A man thought to be in his 40s was supposedly shot four times at the pedestrian crossing Thursday afternoon.

Updated 11:49 p.m. Thursday and 8:50 a.m. Friday.

A shooting involving two U.S. Customs officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry left at least one person wounded Thursday evening.

The gunfire in a pedestrian-processing area at the federal border crossing station was reported shortly after 5 p.m., according to federal officials and the San Diego Police Department.

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The San Diego Police Department said in a statement that the sequence of events culminating in the shooting began when an unidentified man who told authorities he is 47, "approached a pedestrian booth and attempted to walk through without being fully screened" by a CBP officer.

"When the male continued through the turnstile without permission, the
officer yelled for him to return. Additional officers grabbed the male and
escorted him behind the turnstile for proper screening," the statement said.

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But instead of complying, "the male reached into his waistband and produced a chrome-finished replica handgun, which he raised above his head," it said.

"Several people reported hearing the handgun making a noise consistent with a gunshot. In response, two CBP officers fired at the suspect."

Each of the officers involved have been with the CBP two-and-a-half years, police said.

According to KFMB News 8, the man was shot four times, including in the ribs and shoulder, and was then brought to a local hospital for treatment.

Processing of northbound pedestrian traffic was temporarily suspended as authorities investigated, Wasiluk said, but around 7 p.m. was rerouted through two vehicle entry lanes.

The shooting was being investigated by San Diego police homicide detectives, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will determine what charges to file against the suspect, police said.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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