EL CAJON, Calif. — Separate shootings in El Cajon on Thursday afternoon left two people wounded, one who was fatally injured by police gunfire, authorities reported.
The first shooting took place about 2:15 p.m. in the 1100 block of East Main Street, according to the El Cajon Police Department.
The victim in that initial shooting, El Cajon resident Joseph Hutchins, told News 8 that he was walking outside the nursing school where he works when the gunman approached.
"He came down the stairs pulled a gun and shot me!" Hutchins said.
"When he pulled the gun I turned and I believe my iPhone caught the brunt of it, and then ricocheted into me," he added.
Hutchins said that, more than anything, he was in disbelief.
"Did I just get shot right now?" he asked. "And the second thing was like, 'go lock the door' because he tried to come back in and shoot more!"
A short time later, an officer investigating the firearm assault spotted someone matching the description of the shooter near the intersection of Ballard and Decker streets while driving through the neighborhood just south of Interstate 8, ECPD Capt. Rob Ransweiler said.
"As the officer drove closer, the suspect immediately opened fire on the officer while he was still in his car," Ransweiler said. "The officer was able to return fire, striking the suspect at least once."
Paramedics took the suspect and Hutchins to a hospital for treatment of injuries.
"The guy ended up in the trauma room, right next to me at the hospital," Hutchins said.
The suspect later died from his injuries, police told News 8 Thursday evening.
Joseph Hutchins said that he applauds the quick action of the El Cajon Police.
"I honestly feel like they probably saved a lot of people's lives today, because we had kids getting out of school and there were parents walking down the street," he told News 8, adding, "the cops did their job today."
The officer involved in the shooting was uninjured.
The suspect's identity was not immediately available.