Editor’s note: This story has been updated to say the location is the 8000 block of Longdale Drive, and to reflect updated information from authorities that the victim is a neighbor and was injured by bullet fragments.
LEMON GROVE, Calif. — One person was injured after shots were fired in East County Thursday morning, prompting an hours-long SWAT standoff that ended with the suspect in custody, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.
The rounds were fired off at a residence on the 8000 block of Longdale Drive in Lemon Grove. authorities say a female neighbor was hit by bullet fragments and was transported to a local hospital. She’s expected to make a full recovery.
Meanwhile, the sheriff’s department said the suspect was barricading himself inside a home in the area. The mother of the suspect was able to get out the home safely and the sheriff’s department says no one else was inside the home.
No one else was reported to be hurt from the shots fired, authorities said.
Capt. Amber Baggs with the sheriff’s department described the suspect as a white, 28-year-old man who may be suffering from a mental health crisis.
FOX 5’s Elizabeth Alvarez was at the scene and confirmed a strong presence of sheriff’s deputies, some of whom were seen wearing tactical gear. A canine unit and the sheriff’s bomb squad was also on scene.
Braggs said a crisis negotiator and other specialty teams were assisting with the situation.
Authorities say they were initially called around 8 a.m. after the suspect allegedly shot an AR-15 from his property towards neighboring residences. Eight homes in the neighborhood were evacuated as a precaution.
Shortly before 3 p.m., the suspect walked out of the house and surrendered after deputies used chemical agents, SDSO said in a tweet.
Brandon Andrade will be booked into San Diego Central Jail and was expected to face three counts of attempted murder, the sheriff’s department said. He will first be evaluated by mental heal clinicians.
The Lemon Grove Early Childhood Education Center was placed on lockdown as a precaution due to the shooting incident, the Lemon Grove School District confirmed. Around 11:15 a.m., the sheriff’s department tweeted that parents could pick up their children.