Escondido – An officer-involved shooting occurred after Escondido Police Officers responded to reports of a male walking in traffic lanes and approaching passing vehicles, creating a traffic hazard. The man was armed with a knife. During an ensuing confrontation, two Escondido Police Officers and one Escondido Police Detective fired their weapons.
On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at approximately 12:10 p.m., the Escondido Police Department received a radio call of an adult male walking north in the southbound traffic lanes of South Centre City Parkway near Felicita Avenue. The man was approaching passing motorists while armed with a knife, creating a traffic hazard and safety concern. He continued walking north, in and out of southbound traffic lanes, toward 13th Street. Two uniformed Escondido Police Officers and one Escondido Police Detective located the man in the intersection of South Centre City Parkway and 13th Street and immediately directed him to drop the knife.
The man ignored the officers’ commands and ran toward the detective with the knife in his hand, prompting all three to discharge their service weapons, striking the man. The man fell to the ground, immediately got back up, and ran toward the uniformed officers with the knife in his hand. This prompted a second shooting by the officers, again striking the man and causing him to fall to the ground. The man continued to hold onto the knife, preventing officers from approaching to take him into custody and render medical aid. During the confrontation, the man made comments indicating he wanted the officers to shoot him.
Additional Escondido Police Officers arrived with less lethal sponge rounds. Several sponge rounds were fired at the man, one which forced the knife from his hand. Officers were then able to approach the man and immediately render medical aid. Escondido Fire Department Paramedics transported the man to Palomar Medical Center where he is expected to survive his injuries.
The Escondido Police Officers involved were Timothy Mills and Robert Bellamy. Officer Mills has been employed by the Escondido Police Department for approximately 8 months. Officer Bellamy has been employed by the Escondido Police Department for approximately 17 years. The detective involved was Jeffery Bolton, he has been employed by the Escondido Police Department for approximately 3 years. The uniformed officers were equipped with body worn cameras, which were activated during this incident.
The suspect has been identified as 54-year-old Juan Ramos. Ramos faces charges for assaulting a peace officer with a deadly weapon.
San Diego Police Homicide Detectives were called to investigate per the countywide memorandum of understanding regarding officer involved shootings.
Officer involved shooting investigations are extremely thorough, as is the review process. When Homicide completes its investigation, it will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the officers bear any criminal liability for their actions. The Escondido Police Department will conduct an administrative investigation into their personnels’ discharge of their firearms. The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office will also be monitoring the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
