Suspected car thief said 'Shoot me' before officer shot him, police say

EL CAJON, Calif. (KSWB) -- El Cajon police officers responded to the 500 block of South Johnson Avenue shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday after an out-of-state law enforcement agency notified them of a stolen 2008 Kia Amanti sedan's location.

Police confirmed the car was stolen, then approached the car as the man inside slept in the driver's seat, according to a spokesman.

Before police reached the car, the man woke up and apparently refused repeated commands to show officers his hands.

"The suspect continued to ignore the officer's commands and stated something similar to 'Shoot me before I do it' while reaching into his waistband," El Cajon Police Lt. Randy Soulard said. "Believing the suspect was armed, one of the officers on scene fired two rounds, striking the suspect at least one time in the torso."

The wounded man still refused to show his hands and told officers to "kill me please," the lieutenant said.

He eventually showed police his hands, was taken out of the car and officers provided first aid until medics arrived.

No firearms were found in the wounded man's possession or in the stolen car, Soulard said.