On 03/25/22, at approximately 3:51 PM, the El Cajon Police Department received a call from “Fugitive Warrants,” a private “fugitive recovery” business. The reporting party stated two of their agents (not law enforcement officers) were checking 333 W. Lexington (an abandoned business) for a male adult who was wanted.

At approximately 4:18 PM, the reporting party again called the El Cajon Police Department and stated one of their agents suffered a head wound and a gun was involved. Several El Cajon Police Department officers responded to the scene and located both of the agents outside of the abandoned building at 333 W. Lexington; one of agents was bleeding from his face. Two El Cajon Police officers drove a marked patrol vehicle onto the property and rescued the injured agent, who said he was shot in the face. The agent was transported to a nearby Hartland Fire and Rescue station. The agent had what appeared to be a through and through wound to the side of his face. He was transported by medics to a local hospital for treatment.

The victim and his partner agent stated they entered the building looking for a wanted subject. Once inside, they encountered an unrelated subject, who became confrontational with them. The subject retrieved what they believed was a handgun, at which time one of the agents shot a Taser at the subject. The subject tackled the victim and began to strike him. The victim said the subject then shot him in the face. The other agent reported firing his Taser at the subject to get him off of the victim. Both agents were able to evacuate themselves from the building.

El Cajon Police Department officers established a perimeter around the building and parked an armored vehicle outside of the front door. Call-outs were made into the building and two subjects, one determined to be the suspect, eventually exited and were detained without incident. The suspect had Taser darts embedded in upper torso. Due to the suspect not having a firearm on his person, and not knowing if anybody else was inside the building, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department Bomb Arson Unit was requested to respond with a tactical robot to clear the structure. Additionally, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department aerial support unit, ASTREA, assisted.

Officers eventually entered the abandoned building and didn’t locate anyone inside. It appeared multiple squatters have been living inside the building. Detectives and officers conducted a search of the building and located evidence related to the incident.

Records checks of the suspect revealed he had an active felony probation violation arrest warrant. After being interviewed by detectives, the suspect was booked into San Diego County Central Jail pursuant to the outstanding arrest warrant.

The injured “Fugitive Warrants” agent was treated at the hospital and released later in the evening.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case should contact the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311.