Deputy wounds 1 in high school parking lot

SAN CLEMENTE – One person was injured in an officer-involved shooting Tuesday morning in the parking lot of San Clemente High School.

Authorities have released few details of the shooting, which took place about 4:40 a.m. in the parking lot of a high school, said Lt. Roland Chacon of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

A deputy was attempting to pull a car over for a traffic violation in the 700 block of Avenida Pico when the driver went through a gate and into the high school parking lot, said Jim Amormino, a Sheriff's Department spokesman.

A deputy fired during the ensuing confrontation, wounding the man, Amormino said.

Sheriff's officials have not outlined what led to the shooting and have not identified the man. Amormino said he is not believed to have any ties to the school.

The person was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, said Capt. Marc Stone of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Sheriff's officials refused to comment on the man's condition, or even whether he is alive or dead.

The deputy was not injured, Amormino said.

The shooting occurred about two hours before classes were scheduled to begin at the high school, which has a zero period class that begins at 6:40 a.m. More students arrived just before 8 a.m.

School Principal George Duarte said classes would take place as scheduled, but deputies helped direct parents and vehicles away from the crime scene and into the school.

"The day will go as smooth as possible," Duarte said.

Vehicles diverted to the northeast end of campus, which is normally used as an exit.

Sheriff's investigators and the District Attorney's Office are looking into the incident, as is routine in officer involved shootings.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361