An intense standoff unfolded on the evening of May 19th in the 400 block of 47th Street, San Diego, when the San Diego Police Department received a distress call from a woman claiming her ex-boyfriend was threatening to shoot through her apartment door.
Alarmed by the looming danger, the woman allowed the man entry to prevent his threats from materializing, as reported by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Subsequently, he allegedly brandished a firearm at her and seized their 11-month-old daughter before exiting the apartment.
Responding swiftly to the scene, SDPD officers encountered the suspect leaving the premises. Upon noticing the officers, he purportedly made a dash for it, evading authorities by traversing the complex, adjacent trolley tracks, and seeking refuge within another apartment complex at the 200 block of 47th Street.
An officer identified the man as he concealed himself within a bush while still holding the child, according to the sheriff’s department. The officer commanded the suspect to emerge from his hiding spot, but he reportedly defied the order, prompting the officer to discharge his weapon.
Sustaining at least one gunshot wound, the suspect—who allegedly held his child during the confrontation—was swiftly transported to a nearby medical facility. Thankfully, the young child emerged unscathed from the ordeal and was safely reunited with her family. No additional injuries were reported during the incident.
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old San Diego resident Steffon Nutall, has since been charged with multiple serious offenses, including kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, presenting a firearm in a menacing manner, and willful cruelty to a child with the potential for severe physical harm or fatality. The suspect underwent surgery and is anticipated to survive his injuries.