UPDATE: A dramatic police shooting in Escondido has unfolded, resulting in the identification of the suspect and the officers involved. On July 12, 2023, at approximately 12:10 p.m., Escondido police responded to reports of a 54-year-old man behaving erratically with a knife in a busy intersection, raising immediate safety concerns for motorists.
The man, later identified as Juan Ramos, was reportedly approaching vehicles on South Centre City Parkway near Felicita Avenue, prompting urgent police intervention. Officers Timothy Mills and Robert Bellamy, alongside detective Jeffery Bolton, arrived on the scene and commanded Ramos to drop the weapon. However, he ignored their orders, leading to a tense confrontation.
According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), Ramos charged towards Detective Bolton, knife in hand, compelling all three officers to discharge their weapons. The initial shots struck him, but he momentarily recovered and continued advancing towards the officers, resulting in a second round of gunfire.
The situation escalated further as Ramos reportedly expressed a desire for the officers to shoot him. In an effort to subdue him, police deployed sponge rounds. Eventually, one officer managed to disarm him, forcibly taking the knife from his grip.
Paramedics from the Escondido Fire Department transported Ramos to Palomar Medical Center, where he is expected to survive his injuries but faces charges for allegedly assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
The involved officers, Mills, who has served the EPD for about eight months, and Bellamy, a veteran with 17 years of experience, were equipped with activated body-worn cameras during the incident. Detective Bolton has been with the department for approximately three years.
Authorities are actively investigating the shooting and have urged anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. The urgency of this situation highlights growing concerns for public safety in Escondido, as the community processes the implications of this confrontation.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as more details emerge.
