Poway Road Closed As Death of Carjacking Suspect Investigated [UPDATED]

POWAY, CA — Roads were closed in Poway Thursday as the death of a suspected carjacker who reportedly stole a San Diego County sheriff's deputy's car and then an SUV was investigated. The suspect was found dead after crashing into a ravine following a pursuit in which shots were fired, a sheriff's official told reporters.

A traffic SigAlert was issued early Thursday morning for the area as authorities closed Poway Road bewtween state Route 67 and Sunrise Ranch Road and Espola Road approaching Poway Road, the California Highway Patrol reported.

For most of the day, the road closures appeared to still be in place. The city of Poway reported that westbound Poway Road was closed from the 67, while eastbound lanes of Poway Road were closed at Gate Drive near Lowe's. But at about 3:45 p.m., the city reported via Twitter that roads were being opened, with one eastbond lane of Poway Road still closed.

San Diego County sheriff's deputies and San Diego police first responded to the 13000 block of Poway Road shortly before 5 a.m. to investigate reports of a suspicious person looking into vehicles parked at a local auto repair business, according to sheriff's Lt. Kenneth Nelson.

It was unclear what happened as deputies arrived, but Nelson said that within a few minutes, they broadcasted that gunshots had been fired.

They also reported that the suspect had driven off in a deputy's patrol car and was headed east on Poway Road. Nelson said the suspect ditched the patrol car at the intersection of Poway and Espola roads and carjacked a black SUV at gunpoint.

Deputies caught up to the SUV shortly afterward, and gunfire again rang out, according to the lieutenant.

The SUV went off the roadside and down a ravine, and the suspect was found dead behind the wheel.

"Deputies made their way into the ravine in order to take the suspect into custody and to render aid," Nelson said. "When they reached the suspect they discovered he was deceased. The suspect appeared to have trauma to the upper body."

Several knives, a hatchet and loose ammunition were found in the SUV, although detectives are still searching for the firearm reportedly used by the suspect to carjack the vehicle, Nelson said.

The lieutenant told reporters it was too early in the investigation to confirm whether the suspect was fatally shot by deputies, but confirmed the law enforcement officers did fire their weapons at two separate locations. An autopsy will determine how the suspect died, he said.

The four deputies involved were uninjured.

There are no outstanding suspects, Nelson added.

Patch will update this breaking news story as more information is obtained.

— City News Service contributed to this report

(Patch file photo)