A College Area condominium complex remained crowded with investigators Sunday after a resident opened fire on police and firefighters late the previous night, wounding two San Diego officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with confirmation of the suspect’s death. The injured officers were rushed to the hospital, where one remained in serious condition but was stable and another was stable with less serious wounds, said Police Chief David Nisleit. On Sunday morning, the chief confirmed that the officers are expected to fully recover from their injuries. “If you could imagine, when you hear 11-99 (officer needs help) come out over a police radio it’s the worst call you can ever get,” Nisleit told reporters at San Diego police headquarters. “… when you get that call your stomach just sinks and you’re just hoping that nobody dies.” Advertisement Both of the officers are male. The more seriously wounded of the two has three years of experience on the force. The other has 18 years. Their names were not released. Homicide Capt. Mike Hastings said at a morning news conference that investigators were interviewing witnesses at the condo complex and working to obtain a search warrant so they could enter the residence where the shooting occurred. Investigators and evidence technicians could be seen later in the day inside the condo and roaming the complex grounds. Yellow markers had been set near bullet casings, broken glass and other pieces of evidence. Two San Diego police officers were reported injured in a shooting at a College Area condo complex late Saturday night. Investigators were expected to remain at the condo complex, processing the scene, throughout the day, Hastings said. The shooting occurred Saturday night at the Tuscany Place condos on Rolando Court north of El Cajon Boulevard. Officers went there after someone called 911 to report a violent disturbance about 10:15 p.m. Three officers arrived and knocked on the door, but got no response. When they smelled what seemed to be smoke coming from the first-floor unit, they called San Diego firefighters for backup, Nisleit said. Advertisement They then forced open the door and “were met by gunfire,” the chief said, confirming that two officers were hit. At least two of the officers were able to return fire, he said. Several rounds in the gunfight pierced neighboring units. The injured officers and one firefighter were pulled out of the building on a ladder, police said. “I really want to thank all the local law enforcement agencies and the Fire Department for such a quick response, (for) really getting to the scene quickly, getting our officers the care they needed and getting them transported to the local hospitals… , ” Nisleit said. Advertisement 1 / 14 Evidence markers, bullet casings, and a broken window show the chaotic scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 14 Evidence markers and bullet casings show the chaotic scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 14 San Diego police investigators look over the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 14 Nearby residents were allowed to their vehicle at the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 14 A San Diego police Sgt. stands near the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 14 A San Diego police investigator photographs the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 14 An evidence marker shows a shotgun shell casing at the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 14 San Diego police investigators look over evidence at the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 14 Nearby residents look a the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 14 Evidence markers and bullet casings show the chaotic scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 14 San Diego police investigators look over the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 14 A San Diego police investigator looks over evidence at the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 14 San Diego police detectives walk behind the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 14 A San Diego police investigator photographs the scene of a police involved shooting in the College Area of San Diego on June 24, 2018. A resident of the Tuscany Place condos opened fire on San Diego police officers and firefighters late Saturday night, wounding two officers and prompting a SWAT operation that ended with the suspect’s death. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) Another firefighter took cover in a unit next to the suspect’s and was rescued about an hour later, uninjured. Officers from around the county rushed to the scene. They quickly surrounded the three-story complex, blocked off streets and worked at evacuating nearby tenants. A police helicopter watched from above. A tactical robot was able to push the suspect’s front door open about 12:15 a.m., and a camera spotted him on the floor with apparent head trauma and wearing what looked like body armor, according to police scanner traffic. After a more thorough robotic search, a police dog went in and bit the suspect on the leg. After getting no response from the man, police determined he was dead shortly before 1 a.m. Advertisement Investigators have not determined if the man was killed in the firefight or perhaps by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities did not release his name nor confirm he was the 30-year-old resident of the unit. Nisleit added that police have been called to that condo in the past but did not elaborate. A resident at the complex, who asked not to be identified, said the man had attacked a neighbor in the complex about a year ago. A few residents contacted on the night of the shooting said that they’d been warned previously about a “weird guy” who lived on the first floor but were unable to provide additional details. Some said they would hear him shouting at times. One man who lives on the second floor above the suspect said in an email that the man was placed in a mental institution after boring a hole through his wall about 18 months ago. Advertisement After the suspect was released and returned to the complex, he could be heard screaming sometimes, the resident said. “I had no idea that he was armed, and I’m very grateful for all that the SDPD did this evening,” the resident said. Stray rounds went into another man’s condo a few doors down from the shooting suspect. He said he saw three police officers head to the suspect’s condo Saturday night and knock repeatedly, ordering the man to open the door. They called in firefighters and used an ax on the door. Advertisement “I heard them bashing the door, then I heard gunfire. I panicked, lying on the floor,” said the man, who did not give his name. “There was plaster from my wall on my couch and carpet. I crawled over to the window.” He said bullets came into his walls from the hallway, but did not go all the way through. One round hit above his sofa. He moved to his bedroom and waited until officers came by and directed him to escape through a window. He sat in a police car for about two hours, until Red Cross volunteers showed up with drinks and blankets for residents who evacuated without jackets or shoes. Matthew Bezrouch, who lives a few doors down from the suspect, said he heard a barrage of at least 20 rounds after officers tried to force their way through the door. Advertisement “It was fast,” Bezrouch said. “They were screaming ‘two officers down, bleeding!’” Residents evacuated from the El Cajon Boulevard condos in the College Area were aided by the Red Cross after two San Diego police officers were wounded in a shootout. The suspect was found dead. (Pauline Repard/San Diego Union-Tribune )<doc-sep>Two San Diego police officers were shot late Saturday and hospitalized responding to an incident they first thought may be an apartment fire. The suspect who allegedly shot the two officers was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is not yet known. One officer was last reported in stable condition and the other was in serious but stable condition, police said. When police first arrived on scene, they observed and smelled what appeared to be a fire and called the fire department. When authorities tried to open the door to the apartment, they were met with gunfire. One officer shot back. The firefighter attempting to enter the structure along with the police officers ended up in an adjoining apartment, out of the way of the shooter, authorities said. The firefighter was extracted from that apartment by a SWAT team and didn't suffer any significant injuries. Police said they don't know what type of weapon the suspect used or whether he was wearing any type of body armor. Police have not yet entered the apartment and wouldn't confirm whether a robot was used to investigate. Authorities don't have a motive for the suspect at this time.<doc-sep>
San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit said two officers were shot while responding to a disturbance on Saturday night. (CNN) — Two San Diego Police officers were shot after they breached an apartment that smelled of smoke on Saturday night, police officials said. The officers were dispatched to the Tuscany Place Apartments, near San Diego State University, after someone reported hearing cursing, objects being thrown and a man yelling at a woman in a violent manner, police chief David Nisleit said. When the officers arrived, they knocked on the door but got no response. After smelling smoke coming from inside the apartment, the officers called the fire department to the scene, Nisleit said. The officers then breached the door and were immediately met with gunfire, Nisleit said. Officers returned fire, said Nisleit, adding that “many” shots were fired in the standoff. A 3-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department was shot multiple times and is in serious but stable condition. An 18-year veteran of the police force was also shot and is in stable condition. Both are expected to make full recoveries, Nisleit said. A male suspect in the shooting was found dead at the scene. However, it’s unclear if he was hit by police gunfire. Hearing the emergency request for help come over the radio was the “worst call you can ever get,” Nisleit said. “And that’s why you saw such a county-wide response for this call for help,” he added. ” And I can tell you, every single chief, every single officer behind me, and myself, when you get that call, your stomach just sinks and you’re just hoping that nobody dies. “I’m blessed that none of our officers died. We have one that’s very seriously injured, but looks like he’ll make a full recovery, and I’m very thankful for that.” Nisleit said the suspect had a criminal history and that police were called to the location numerous times over the last several years.