Deputies Shoot, Arrest Man Accused Of Threatening Them, Bystander

VISTA, CA — A man was in custody at a local hospital Wednesday after allegedly threatening another man and sheriff's deputies with a pellet rifle and two knives near a vacant building in Vista.

A man called the San Diego County Sheriff's Department after Omar Rojas, 20, pulled a knife on him and then slashed his tires at around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, officials said.

Deputies said the victim locked himself in his car after Rojas approached him "bizarrely" and produced a knife.

Lt. Thomas Siever said Rojas fled into a nearby neighborhood once authorities arrived, and deputies later found him in the backyard of a home in the 1500 block of Kiva Lane.

During the confrontation, Rojas "armed himself with what deputies believed to be a rifle" and was shot by a deputy, authorities said. Siever said deputies secured Rojas until fire personnel could arrive and provide medical aid. Medics took him to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputies allegedly found a pellet rifle and two knives in the backyard where Rojas was shot. They said it was later revealed that the pellet Rojas pulled out belonged to the residents of the backyard.

Siever confirmed the homeowners and Rojas have no connection, and the homeowners were not home at the time of the incident.

Rojas was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony vandalism.

— City News Service