San Diego police officer wounded in shooting

A San Diego police officer was shot and wounded Sunday morning in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood.

The officer was taken to a hospital with a wound to her neck or shoulder, police said. Her name was not released.

Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said the officer was shot at least once. The wound is not life-threatening, she said.

Lt. Mike Hastings of the homicide squad said that the incident occured around 7:40 a.m. with a high-speed freeway chase involving several officers. The driver was considered a suspect in a string of shootings at businesses in recent weeks, police said.

The driver left his car and fired at least once at officers. Two officers returned fire, killing him, Hastings said.

“The officer is in good spirits, doing well and appreciates the good wishes of the entire community,” Zimmerman told reporters outside the hospital.

The wounded officer is a five-year veteran and assigned as a training officer. She had a trainee with her during the incident, Zimmerman said.

“She just wants to get well so she can get out on the streets to protect and serve,” she said. “Everybody is so grateful that it wasn’t worse.”

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