Man who shot San Diego police officer sentenced to prison

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A man who led police on a high-speed chase and then shot a San Diego police officer was sentenced Friday to 47 years-to-life in state prison.

Andrew Joseph Garcia, 22, pleaded guilty last month to premeditated and deliberate attempted murder on a peace officer, assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a peace officer, shooting at an inhabited dwelling and unlawful driving of a stolen vehicle, according to a release Friday from the office of San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.

He also pleaded guilty to felony reckless evading and felon in possession of a firearm, the release continued.

Garcia was chased by police for more than an hour for driving a stolen car in December 2022, authorities said. The chase happened on and off freeways at speeds upwards to 90 miles per hour, the release stated.

After fleeing the car and running into an apartment complex in Mountain View, Garcia opened fire on officers with a ghost gun, firing multiple rounds, according to authorities. In doing so, he hit one of the officers in the chest and arm.

During a standoff in a vacant building, authorities said Garcia overdosed on drugs and had to be revived by officers using Narcan before being placed under arrest.

Garcia’s sentence included guilty pleas on a separate gang-related case from April 2022. During the incident, authorities said he got out of a vehicle and shot at two people who were eating burritos on the sidewalk because he mistook them to be rival gang members.

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