Deputy Wounded in Routine Stop

A routine traffic stop nearly proved fatal for a San Diego County Sheriff’s deputy who was shot several times by a gunman driving a stolen car in Lemon Grove.

Deputy Paul E. Kain, 34, suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the lower torso, sheriff’s officials said. Kain, who has been with the department for six years, was shot at 6:08 a.m. while making a traffic stop in the 8500 block of Palm Street.

According to a sheriff’s report of the shooting, Kain stopped a blue 1985 Chevrolet Camaro with two suspects inside and approached the vehicle on foot. As Kain neared the car, the driver leaned out of the window and began shooting with a handgun, authorities said.

The deputy was hit almost immediately and fell behind the suspects’ vehicle, but he managed to get his pistol out of its holster and returned fire. Investigators would not say how many shots were fired by either Kain or the gunman. It was not known if any of Kain’s shots hit the suspects or their vehicle.

Several residents who heard the gunfire called 911. A sheriff’s spokesman said some residents rushed outside and assisted the injured deputy until paramedics arrived. Kain was taken by Life Flight helicopter to UC San Diego Medical Center. Nursing supervisor Tom Banaszak said Kain was in serious condition but is expected to recover.

After the shooting, the Camaro’s owner reported to El Cajon police that the vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of an El Cajon hotel, sheriff’s officials said. Evidently, Kain did not know that the car was stolen when he initiated the stop. Sheriff’s officials would not say why Kain stopped the car.

Officers throughout the county were alerted to be on the lookout for a metallic or turquoise blue Camaro, license 2YUA602, with a Bad Boys decal on the front windshield. The driver and gunman was described as between 35 and 40 years old with brown hair and a goatee. No description was available for the passenger, but authorities believe the other suspect could be a woman.

Almost 12 hours after the shooting, El Cajon police reported that they had recovered the vehicle near the intersection of Magnolia and Renette avenues, but there was no sign of the suspects.

Police radio calls of a deputy down prompted a quick response from area law enforcement agencies. The California Highway Patrol and San Diego Police Department sent officers to the scene in an unsuccessful effort to search for the suspects.