Narcotics Officer Wounded in Freeway Shootout

**Willowdared** · 11-20-07, 05:53 PM

Suspect is killed during shootout

Officer is injured near interstate

By Lola Sherman
STAFF WRITER

November 18, 2007

NORTH PARK – A police officer, perhaps an undercover Department of Justice agent, was injured and a suspect killed in a shootout last night near Interstate 805.

The freeway and on-ramps at El Cajon Boulevard and University Avenue were closed.

Police said the officer did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Shawn Onephonesy, 28, a paperhandler for The San Diego Union-Tribune, said he was on his way to work about 8:40 p.m. when police directed him and other drivers to pull over. He said he then heard at least 10 shots.

Onephonesy said he was huddled in his car under the El Cajon Boulevard bridge that extends over the freeway when he heard shooting between police and a man who appeared to have entered the freeway on foot.
“My knees were shaking,” Onephonesy said.

Police radio traffic indicated that the incident may have started on 34th Street south of El Cajon Boulevard.

The southbound ramps to I-805 were closed on Interstate 8 eastbound and westbound, and I-805 was closed between Interstate 8 and Interstate 15, causing a major traffic jam, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

Here's a follow-up

Apartment killing preceded shootout

UNION-TRIBUNE
November 20, 2007
SAN DIEGO: A police shootout that led to the closure Saturday night of Interstate 805 in San Diego began after a man being watched by narcotics detectives shot another man who may have been seeing the suspect's former wife, police said yesterday.

Police say Cao Lam, 41, opened fire in a City Heights apartment, killing Oeuth Saem, 47, and wounding several others. Saem, who worked at the Sycuan casino, was dating Lam's ex-wife, acquaintances of the couple said. Police were still trying to determine the extent of the relationship.

Lam and another man had driven to an apartment on 34th Street, unaware that they were being watched by agents with the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

After the shooting, authorities arrested Tri Vo, 23, as he tried to drive off. Police say Lam shot a state agent in the side while fleeing.

As Lam crossed both sides of the freeway and shot at officers, San Diego police opened fire and fatally wounded him, Lt. Kevin Rooney said.

The officers who fired were identified yesterday as: Sgt. Danny Orduno, who has been with the department for 19 years; Officer Randy Burgess, 21 years; Officer Nestor Hernandez, 14 years; Officer Dan Hall, 10 years; Officer Mark Brenner, eight years; and Officer John Thompson, one year.

–J.H.