Police: Off-duty officer accidentally shots himself while driving
ALHAMBRA, Calif. - 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 around 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.