Escondido Manhunt Underway Following Shooting – NBC 7 San Diego

An hourslong manhunt came to an end Monday morning after a man accused of shooting and injuring an Escondido police officer was found dead of a self-inflicted wound.

The ordeal began when Escondido police received a report of a domestic violence incident at about 2:45 a.m. along the 1300 block of Morning View Drive. Officers soon learned that the man allegedly involved in the disturbance left his home with a high-powered rifle. He was identified by police as Anastacio Rosas Jr., 27.

Shortly after 3 a.m., an Escondido Police Department officer made contact with Rosas on Reidy Creek, just south of Lincoln Avenue. There, Rosas allegedly fired on an officer, wounding the officer, according to the Escondido Police Department.

The shooting prompted a large-scale response from law enforcement as officials searched for Rosas, deeming the suspect “armed and dangerous.”

The manhunt led to a partial closure on eastbound State route 78 as at least a dozen officers, some armed, responded to the incident.

Northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 15 to eastbound SR-78 were closed until further notice due to the manhunt, according to Caltrans San Diego.

Escondido police have released an image of the man accused of shooting an officer following a domestic disturbance call. NBC 7’s Nicole Gomez has more information.

Video footage of the scene showed authorities responding to the area of Centre City Parkway and Decatur Way, near the Escondido Police Department headquarters. El Norte Parkway and Escondido Boulevard were also impacted by the response. The area is east of I-15 and north of SR-78.

At about 5 a.m., a police helicopter overhead announced authorities were searching for Rosas Jr.

At the scene, at least a dozen personnel could be seen, some carrying firearms. At around 6 a.m., police officers were focusing their investigation on a drainage canal along Centre City Parkway.

Escondido police said that at about 7:45 a.m., authorities received a tip that the suspect was inside an empty apartment on the 700 block of West Lincoln Avenue. Tactical units responded to the scene and as they searched the area, they heard the sound of a gunshot coming from the apartment.

SkyRanger 7 flies over the large-scale search in Escondido for a man accused of shooting and wounding an officer. Parts of SR-78 were shut down due to the manhunt.

Authorities then searched the apartment and found a man believed to be Rosas Jr. dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Officials said there was no further danger to the public.

The officer who was shot was hospitalized and remains in serious condition. He is, however, expected to survive, authorities said. The officer has not yet been identified by the police department.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with more information on the shooting is encouraged to contact the Escondido Police Department at (760) 839-4722. Anonymous tips can be made by contacting (760) 743-8477.

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