The San Diego police sergeant who was shot in the head and his fellow officers who opened fire during a shootout at a shopping center in 4S Ranch last week were identified by sheriff’s officials on Friday.
Sgt. Anthony Elliott, who’s been with the department for about six years, was investigating a report of a stolen car and a prior domestic violence incident along with officers Tanarat Crowe, Darrion Talalele and Trevor Wright when the gunfire began Dec. 7 about 11:30 p.m., sheriff’s Lt. Joseph Jarjura said. Crowe and Wright have been with SDPD for about a year and Talalele for 10 months. All four work at the department’s Northwestern Division.
Elliott was shot in the head and rushed to a hospital. He was described as stable and is still receiving treatment.
The Peace Officers Research Association of California is aiming to raise $50,000 to support the injured officer during his recovery, according to a fundraising page. So far, more than $28,000 has been raised. The page includes a letter from Elliott’s wife, Laura, who describes her husband as a well-liked and respected sergeant and a dedicated husband and father to two boys.
“He is the most honorable and selfless man that I know,” Laura Elliott wrote. “There’s nothing more important to him than his family, and I know that because he makes us feel that way every single day.
The first thing he said to me after he was shot was, ‘I just want to be able to hold my kids again.’”
Last week’s incident began about 10 p.m. when someone reported the stolen vehicle and domestic violence incident, sheriff’s officials said. It’s unclear when the domestic violence incident occurred.
Police identified 46-year-old Curtis Harris as a potential suspect and learned that an Emergency Protection Order had been filed against him but had not yet been served. They were also told that he was a felon known to carry a firearm.
Officers located Harris at the Ralph’s grocery story in the shopping center on 4S Commons Drive in San Diego and were trying to serve the protection order when Harris opened fire, Jarjura said. The victim in the order, which had been signed by a judge, lived near the center.
Elliot and a police vehicle were struck, prompting three officers to return fire. Harris was hit and taken to a hospital, where he died.
The investigation is still ongoing.
