3 Held in Death of San Diego Sheriff Trainee

SAN DIEGO —  After an all-night search in a suburb east of San Diego, authorities arrested three men Tuesday morning in the shooting death of an off-duty San Diego County Sheriff’s Department trainee.

Kelly A. Bazer of Spring Valley, a 28-year-old mother of two, was shot in the back Monday evening as she ran from two men who had robbed a Spring Valley supermarket and were trying to commandeer her car.

Sheriff’s officials said it is unlikely that Bazer’s assailants recognized her as a law enforcement officer. Her trainee uniform--green pants, a white shirt and a black tie--bore no identifying badges and she was wearing a civilian jacket over it, Sgt. Mike Annibali said.

Service Revolver

Sheriff’s officials said it is not clear whether Bazer, who had begun training at the Sheriff’s Academy seven days before her death, was armed. Trainees had been ordered not to carry their service revolvers with them.

Sheriff John Duffy said Bazer would be accorded full law-enforcement honors at a memorial service, probably on Friday.

Booked at the Central Jail in San Diego on suspicion of murder, robbery and auto theft were Ronnie Davis Williams, 20; Prentice Byrd, 19, and Jessie Lee Stuart, 19, all of San Diego. The men were being held without bail.