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Public Safety

CHP Cruiser Stolen Following Gunfire

A California Highway Patrol car is pictured in this undated photo.
Tarryn Mento
A California Highway Patrol car is pictured in this undated photo.

A California Highway Patrol officer came under gunfire today during a traffic stop alongside Interstate 5 near Mission Bay, after which a woman stole his cruiser, sped off and led a pursuit that ended with an officer-involved shooting near Qualcomm Stadium.

The initial shooting, which caused no injuries, occurred in the area of Clairemont Drive and De Anza Cove about 2:45 p.m., according to the CHP. The involved officer was investigating a hit-and-run accident at the time, CHP spokeswoman Mary Bailey said.

Following the shots, a woman the officer had contacted got into his cruiser and took off, according to police. It was unclear if she was the one who had opened fire.

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Officers caught up with the stolen squad car in Mission Valley and pursued it over various streets before it came to a halt at Friars Road and Qualcomm Way just after 3 p.m., SDPD spokesman Humberto Hernandez said.

A short time time later, at least one officer opened fire, Bailey said. The suspect was then taken into custody. It was not immediately clear if she had been wounded.

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