Man With Gun Opens Fire; Neighborhood Evacuated

A 66-year-old Mira Mesa man, described by his wife as depressed, armed himself with an assault rifle and began firing shots out of his home Wednesday night, forcing the evacuation of the neighborhood and bringing a SWAT team to the quiet, residential street.

Police said he was arrested shortly after 10 p.m. but they gave no details.

Shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday, police were summoned to the home of John Wessell on San Ramon Drive after hearing reports that he was armed and dangerous and holding his wife hostage inside the house.

But Rose Wessell escaped and later told authorities that her husband was “depressed and unhappy,” said Bill Robinson, spokesman for the San Diego Police Department.

Robinson said that, about 8 p.m., Wessell opened fire with an assault rifle. But, as of late Wednesday night, he had not injured himself or anyone else.

“At this point, we’re attempting to negotiate with him,” Robinson said shortly after 9 p.m. “I don’t know the total number of officers on hand, but we have a command post set up just east of Mira Mesa High School.”

Francis H. (Frank) Elfers, who lives on the same street as Wessell, said most of the residents directly behind and across the street from Wessell’s house, on the southwest corner of San Ramon Drive and Ivory Coast Drive, had been evacuated and sent to the command center near the school.

However, a few neighbors had gathered in Elfers’ home, and, as he spoke to a reporter by phone, gunshots could be heard in the background.

“We just keep hearing these big bangs, and it’s really scary,” Elfers said. “I heard they’re about to fire off some tear gas, and that they’re trying to negotiate. Police are all over the neighborhood. It’s crazy around here.”

Elfers said of Wessell, “He don’t much get along with people. He’s kind of an inventor and kind of eccentric.”

A woman who described herself as “just a neighbor” and asked not to be quoted by name, said that Wessell, who had lived on the street for 15 years, runs three small businesses out of his home--Accurate Lawnmower, Air O Jet Gas Saver and Big Key of Mira Mesa.

“I’ve lived here about 18 years, and the whole time he’s been here, he’s had nine old cars, rusty old piles of junk, just piled up in front of his house,” she said. “He’s done things like start his own church . . . “

The woman said she arrived home from work shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday only to find police officers in her yard, telling her she had to leave.

“And now, all the streets are blocked off,” she said.

At that point, several more gunshots sounded behind her.

“God, it’s scary,” she said.

Elfers said at 9:30 Wednesday night that “a few more shots have just been fired, and now, they’re hollerin’ at him.”

Police negotiations with Wessell were continuing late Wednesday night.