San Diego, California — On August 23 just after 8:00 a.m., San Diego Police Officers responded to a home in the 1500 block of Bridgeview Drive in Fairmount Park in the City of San Diego for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. Officers arrived on scene and located two victims, a 73-year-old woman and a 79-year-old woman. One victim had a laceration to her head and the other a laceration to her neck. The suspect was identified as 48-year-old Scholar Wang, the nephew of the victims. The assault of the victims happened following a verbal argument.
The weapon used on the victims is described as a metal object. Both victims were immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. They are expected to survive. A perimeter was set around the home where the assaults took place. Officers made entry into the home and discovered Wang had barricaded himself in the bathroom. Officers attempted to deescalate the situation by talking with Wang. As the situation continued, officers were able to open the bathroom door and tried to use pepper spray on Wang which was ineffective. A decision was made to use a police canine. The police canine made contact with Wang.
As the officers walk up to the bathroom and stand at the doorway, Wang, in the shower stall, which is largely out of view, appears to strike the dog with the metal bar, raising it above his head and lowering it. The dog appears to try to bite Wang. Within 5 seconds, as officers repeatedly order Wang to show them his hands, Officer Mitchel Tani fires.
The San Diego Fire Department arrived and transported the suspect to a hospital for treatment where he was later pronounced deceased. The police dog suffered a cut to its head, police said. No officers were injured.
