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East County News Service
Photo: ECM news partner 10 News
Update August 23,2016: The deputies involved in this shooting have been identified as Deputy Hugh Davidson, Deputy Nikholas Johnson, Deputy David Smith and Sergeant Robert Niderost. Davidson has been employed as a deputy sheriff with the San Diego Sheriff's Department for 2 years, Johnson for 10 years, Smith for 5 years, andNiederost for31 years. All involved deputies are assigned to the Poway Station.
Update August 19, 2016: The deceased suspect has been identified as Trenton Lohman, 38, of Lakeside. He was on parole from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Cause of death was a thoracic gunshot wound.
August 18, 2016 (Poway) — Deputies opened fire on an armed man who carjacked two vehicles, including a patrol car. A wild chase along Poway Road ended in the suspect driving into a ravine, where he was found dead.
The incident began at about 4:50 a.m. when deputies responded to reports of a man looking into vehicles parked near an automotive shop in the 13900 block of Poway Road. “Shortly after deputies arrived on scene they broadcast shots had been fired and the suspect was fleeing east on Poway Road, driving a stolen Sheriff's patrol vehicle,” says Lt. Kenneth Nelson with the Sheriff’s Homicide detail.
Additional responding deputies pursued the suspect to the intersection of Poway Road and Espola Road. The suspect abandoned the stolen patrol vehicle near this intersection. He then stopped a passing black SUV at gun point, forced the owner from the car and began to drive west along Poway Road.
Deputies confronted the suspect just west of the intersection and gunshots were again fired. The suspect drove the stolen SUV into a nearby ravine, where it came to rest, the windshield riddled with bullets.
Deputies made their way into the ravine in order to take the suspect into custody and to render aid. When they reached the suspect they discovered he was deceased with apparent upper body trauma.
Deputies also discovered the suspect was in possession of several knives, a hatchet and several rounds of loose handgun ammunition. Detectives are still searching for the firearm reportedly used by the suspect during the theft of the SUV.
The incident prompted shutdown of Poway Road between State Route 67 and Espola, causing headaches for motorists and concerns for parents trying to reach local schools.
This event is being investigated by detectives from the Sheriff's Homicide Detail and the Poway Station. There are no known injuries to any of the responding deputies. A total of four deputies are believed to have been involved in the shooting. No suspects are believed to be outstanding.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy in order to determine the cause and manner of death as well as the positive identification of the suspect, who is described as a white male in his 20s or 30s.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321/after hours at (858) 565-5200. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
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