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A dramatic standoff caught on tape shows a wounded police officer running to safety after being shot in the neck by a suspect. Jeff Glor reports the officer is in stable condition.
UPDATE: SUSPECT FOUND DEAD IN BURNED DOWN HOUSE
EL CAJON — Two bodies have been discovered in the aftermath of a Sunday evening shootout that wounded an El Cajon police officer — one body in the rubble of a burned-out house and the body of the suspect’s 1-year-old daughter in a nearby pickup, authorities said Monday.
The girl appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head, El Cajon police said.
The remains discovered in the house were burned beyond recognition and found near the front door of the single-story house on Prince Street near Ann Street, El Cajon police Lt. Mark Coit said.
It has not been determined if the body is that of Kevin Collier, who is suspected of setting the house ablaze and then opening fire on two officers, hitting one of them in the head.
That officer, Jarred Slocum, 28, was dragged out of harm’s way and taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery and is listed in critical but stable condition, Coit said. The bullet struck his left temple and traveled around his skull, police said. Slocum has four years on the force.
Jared McCarthy, 24, who lives in the neighborhood and is a lifelong friend of the estranged wife of the assailant, said Collier called neighbors Sunday and said he had shot and killed his mother-in-law and 1-year-old daughter.
Investigators were continuing to search for the mother-in-law.
Collier and his wife, Alyssa, 25, had recently returned from the East Coast and were living at the home that belonged to her mother.
She filed for divorce on Wednesday after just over a year-and-a-half of marriage, according to court records.
She requested sole custody of their daughter and monthly child and spousal support until she finds a job. In the file, she described Kevin Coller as a “good dad” but said realistically he worked too many hours to have shared custody.
The couple ran a kennel called The Big Dogs, specializing in English Mastiffs, according to their website.
On Alyssa Collier’s Facebook page, which appears to have been altered, her occupation reads “full time wife and mommy” with the description: “I plan to sit on my ass and take all my ex money.”
It also mentions her working as a dancer at Cheetah’s strip club.
The incident began shortly after 5 p.m. when someone reported a man walking toward the house waving a gun, then opening fire, police said.
Officers Slocum and Timothy McFarland approached the house and were met with someone firing at them from inside.
Freelance videographer Greg Torkelson was listening to the scanner Sunday evening when he heard the initial “shots fired” call. When he arrived, he saw the officers’ guns drawn and began filming them from behind his car for safety.
“I knew they were going to kick me out at any moment, so I thought I’d better start rolling,” Torkelson recalled.
“My first shot in the tape, I zoomed in on the officer, and 15 seconds later, ‘Pop, pop.’”
The video shows the officer clutch his bleeding neck and then fall back against a fence. Another officer and neighbors then carry the officer to safety.
Police eventually told Torkelson to move back from the scene, and detective later followed him to his Lakeside home to get a copy of the footage for the investigation, he said.
Daniel Castro, 46, lives around the corner on Ann Street. He was barbecuing when he heard several gunshots.
“I could smell the gunfire,” Castro said.
He said he went to the front door and saw five to eight officers and then several more arrived. “They kept pouring in,” he said.
He saw several neighborhood children outside and ushered them into his home. Then he noticed that the house was on fire.
Castro said he watched as the wounded officer was dragged away from the line of fire and was loaded into an awaiting ambulance.
A short time later, officers asked him to leave the area. He was not allowed to return to his home until about 5 a.m., Castro said.
Authorities were at the home all night and expect to continue searching it for evidence. El Cajon police are expected to release additional information Monday morning.
A dramatic standoff caught on tape shows a wounded police officer running to safety after being shot in the neck by a suspect. Jeff Glor reports the officer is in stable condition.
UPDATE: SUSPECT FOUND DEAD IN BURNED DOWN HOUSE
EL CAJON — Two bodies have been discovered in the aftermath of a Sunday evening shootout that wounded an El Cajon police officer — one body in the rubble of a burned-out house and the body of the suspect’s 1-year-old daughter in a nearby pickup, authorities said Monday.
The girl appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head, El Cajon police said.
The remains discovered in the house were burned beyond recognition and found near the front door of the single-story house on Prince Street near Ann Street, El Cajon police Lt. Mark Coit said.
It has not been determined if the body is that of Kevin Collier, who is suspected of setting the house ablaze and then opening fire on two officers, hitting one of them in the head.
That officer, Jarred Slocum, 28, was dragged out of harm’s way and taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery and is listed in critical but stable condition, Coit said. The bullet struck his left temple and traveled around his skull, police said. Slocum has four years on the force.
Jared McCarthy, 24, who lives in the neighborhood and is a lifelong friend of the estranged wife of the assailant, said Collier called neighbors Sunday and said he had shot and killed his mother-in-law and 1-year-old daughter.
Investigators were continuing to search for the mother-in-law.
Collier and his wife, Alyssa, 25, had recently returned from the East Coast and were living at the home that belonged to her mother.
She filed for divorce on Wednesday after just over a year-and-a-half of marriage, according to court records.
She requested sole custody of their daughter and monthly child and spousal support until she finds a job. In the file, she described Kevin Coller as a “good dad” but said realistically he worked too many hours to have shared custody.
The couple ran a kennel called The Big Dogs, specializing in English Mastiffs, according to their website.
On Alyssa Collier’s Facebook page, which appears to have been altered, her occupation reads “full time wife and mommy” with the description: “I plan to sit on my ass and take all my ex money.”
It also mentions her working as a dancer at Cheetah’s strip club.
The incident began shortly after 5 p.m. when someone reported a man walking toward the house waving a gun, then opening fire, police said.
Officers Slocum and Timothy McFarland approached the house and were met with someone firing at them from inside.
Freelance videographer Greg Torkelson was listening to the scanner Sunday evening when he heard the initial “shots fired” call. When he arrived, he saw the officers’ guns drawn and began filming them from behind his car for safety.
“I knew they were going to kick me out at any moment, so I thought I’d better start rolling,” Torkelson recalled.
“My first shot in the tape, I zoomed in on the officer, and 15 seconds later, ‘Pop, pop.’”
The video shows the officer clutch his bleeding neck and then fall back against a fence. Another officer and neighbors then carry the officer to safety.
Police eventually told Torkelson to move back from the scene, and detective later followed him to his Lakeside home to get a copy of the footage for the investigation, he said.
Daniel Castro, 46, lives around the corner on Ann Street. He was barbecuing when he heard several gunshots.
“I could smell the gunfire,” Castro said.
He said he went to the front door and saw five to eight officers and then several more arrived. “They kept pouring in,” he said.
He saw several neighborhood children outside and ushered them into his home. Then he noticed that the house was on fire.
Castro said he watched as the wounded officer was dragged away from the line of fire and was loaded into an awaiting ambulance.
A short time later, officers asked him to leave the area. He was not allowed to return to his home until about 5 a.m., Castro said.
Authorities were at the home all night and expect to continue searching it for evidence. El Cajon police are expected to release additional information Monday morning.
