Lemon Grove Special Enforcement Works La Mesa Standoff

By City News Service

Deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Station, Special Enforcement Detail and Crisis Negotiation team were involved in a standoff with an armed man who has reportedly been firing a weapon while barricaded inside a home in the 9900 block of Grandview Drive in unincorporated La Mesa today.

"A fiancee of the 47-year-old man holed up inside the house told deputies they had an argument and the man threatened to hurt her and himself," San Diego County Sheriff's Public Affairs Division said in a news release. "The man had been drinking and, when deputies arrived on the scene, he threatened to kill the deputies. A few seconds later, shots were fired inside the house and the deputies immediately backed out of the house."

Three other people inside the house got out safely, according to the release, which reported no shots were fired by deputies.

Homes immediately surrounding the suspect's house have been evacuated, and inhabitants of homes within a one-mile radius were warned by the Sheriff's Communication Center to remain indoors and close their windows, curtains and blinds.

"The suspect has a long rifle and is shooting in all directions," Sheriff's said adding deputies were unable to go door-to-door to evacuate others nearby because "they would be exposed to gunfire."

Grandview Drive was closed in both directions.

A Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter was on the scene assisting deputies on the ground.

No one has been hurt, Sheriff's said.

"We are urging the suspect to give himself up so the situation can end peacefully," Sheriff's said.