SAN DIEGO -- Authorities Tuesday released the name of a domestic-violence suspect fatally shot by a San Diego police officer while allegedly struggling to grab the lawman's gun.
Victor David Ortega, 31, was pronounced dead in the 10500 block of Caminito Flores at 8:11 a.m. Monday, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.
Two SDPD officers went to Ortega's home in the 8800 block of Flanders Drive 20 minutes earlier in response to a report that he had punched and kicked his wife, causing her to bleed from her mouth.
The 27-year-old woman met the patrol personnel on a lawn in front of her house and told them her husband had run away to the north, SDPD homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney said.
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The officers split up to search for Ortega, and one of them found him a short time later in an alley just south of Hillery Drive. Seeing the policeman, Ortega allegedly ran off to the east.
The officer radioed that he was in a foot pursuit and broadcast a description of Ortega as he fled to a parking area east of the 10500 block of Caminito Flores.
Ortega ran into a breezeway, slamming a swinging wooden door behind him, Rooney said, noting the officer kicked the gate open and was immediately confronted by Ortega.
"The officer tried to control the suspect, who grabbed the officer and wrestled with him as they bounced off the walls of the breezeway,'' Rooney said.
The officer forced Ortega to the ground and held him face-down while struggling to handcuff him, according to the lieutenant.
After getting Ortega's arms behind his back and cuffing the left hand, the officer noticed that his backup handgun had fallen out of its holster and was lying on the ground next to the man's head. The suspect reached for, and touched, the pistol before the officer was able to push it away, Rooney said.
The officer then got on one knee and pulled his primary gun from its holster. At that point, Ortega turned, and as he raised himself, grabbed for the primary weapon, Rooney said. From a distance of about a foot, the officer shot Ortega.
The officer radioed for assistance and began CPR prior to the arrival of medics, who took over the lifesaving attempt before pronouncing Ortega dead at the scene shortly after 8 a.m.
The officer involved in the shooting is a three-year member of the department assigned to the SDPD Northeastern Division. He will serve desk duty until investigations in the case are complete, as is routine in instances of officer-involved shootings.
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