Off-Duty Cop Accidentally Shoots Self During SGV Incident

UPDATED at 1:45 pm 9/23/19

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, CA -- An off-duty Alhambra police officer driving his personal vehicle accidentally shot himself in San Marino during an apparent confrontation with another motorist, who turned out to be an off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, authorities said Monday.

The shooting occurred about 8:30 a.m. Sunday near Duarte Road and San Gabriel Boulevard, according to the San Marino Police Department.

San Marino police Sgt. Rob Cervantes said the Alhambra officer, who was driving a Subaru, suffered a gunshot wound to his chest and was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. The sheriff's deputy was driving a Mercedes, police said. The men's names were not released.

According to San Marino police, the deputy spotted a car being driven ``erratically on Duarte (Road) east of San Gabriel Boulevard.'' The deputy, assigned to the Court Services Division, was driving his personal vehicle and followed the other vehicle into the city of San Marino, police said.

``The deputy indicated that he wanted to stop the driver and tell him not to speed in the neighborhood,'' according to police. ``Just inside the San Marino city limits, the deputy pulled alongside the other vehicle and motioned for the occupant to open his window. Both vehicles were still moving at this time.''

The off-duty Alhambra police officer ``slowed, moving to the right to allow the vehicle to pass. That vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed and the officer believed it was in an aggressive manner,'' police said.

``Fearing for his safety, the Alhambra officer drew his firearm while inside his vehicle,'' police said. ``While doing so, he discharged one round resulting in his injury.''

Although initially believed to be a possible case of road rage, San Marino police said Monday that was not the case. Police noted that the drivers did not know each other and neither was aware that the other was a member of a law enforcement agency.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Detective Golden via email -- dgolden@smpd.us -- or by phone at 626-300-0719. Information may also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at lacrimestoppers.com or by calling (800) 222-TIPS.

City News Service contributed to this report.

--------------------------------------

ORIGINAL story:

SAN MARINO, CA -- A driver suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound during a confrontation between two drivers in San Marino over the weekend, a police sergeant said.

The incident happened about 8:35 a.m. Sunday in the area of San Gabriel Boulevard and Duarte Road, according to San Marino police Sgt. Rob Cervantes.

The driver of blue Subaru was allegedly driving erratically in the area, Cervantes said, when another driver in a Mercedes pulled alongside the Subaru and motioned the driver to roll down his window.

During the confrontation between the two drivers, the Subaru driver received the gunshot wound to his chest, Cervantes said. Paramedics responded to the location and took the wounded man to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Cervantes said.

Exactly how the person allegedly shot himself was not disclosed by police, and there's no word regarding whether the Mercedes driver was cited or arrested.

City News Service contributed to this report.