Full Notification

A SWAT standoff in Encinitas is now over. Sheriff’s Deputies deployed robots inside the house at 1:30 a.m. to check on the suspect. When it was deemed safe, members of the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED/SWAT) entered the house at 1:38 a.m. and found the suspect’s body with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death and identify the body. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit will be at the house throughout the day today to process the scene. Residents will be allowed back into their homes around 3:00 a.m.

The ten-hour incident started just after 1:00 p.m., February 20th in the 700 block of Del Rio Avenue. Deputies from the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station received a call from a woman who recently obtained a restraining order against her son. She told deputies her son arrived at her house and was upset about the restraining order then took off with her car.

The suspect returned to the scene shortly after 3:30 p.m. Deputies tried to contact the suspect, but the 22-year-old suspect refused to follow commands. A tear gas was deployed to gain compliance. The suspect then opened fire. Two deputies were hurt. One was wounded in the forehead and was treated and released from the hospital. The other deputy suffered a leg injury and is in stable condition at Scripps La Jolla. We are not releasing the names of the suspect or the deputies at this time.

After shots were fired, the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail or SED and Crisis Negotiation Team or CNT responded to the scene and set up a perimeter. Escondido, Oceanside and Carlsbad Police SWAT Teams also assisted with this call.

Nine homes were evacuated as a precaution. The Red Cross helped residents at the Encinitas Community Center with food and shelter. We thank them for their cooperation during this incident.