Attempted murder suspect wounded in officer-involved shooting in Costa Mesa

COSTA MESA, Calif. - A possibly suicidal 26-year-old man who allegedly fired shots at a Costa Mesa Police Department officer and a civilian was wounded in an officer-involved shooting Tuesday night.

Officers received a call at 3:43 p.m. about a possibly suicidal man armed with a handgun in the area of Orange Avenue and Palmer Street, according to Lt. Ed Everett of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

At about 4 p.m., an officer in the area identified Steven Fernandez of San Diego as matching the description of the suspect. Fernandez then fled on foot while firing several shots at the officer, who returned fire, Everett said.

Fernandez ran through a house and threatened a woman who was smoking in the backyard before jumping a fence and running into the next-door garage in the 200 block of Knox Place, Everett said. He allegedly shot at that resident.

Fernandez was confined to the garage for at least two hours by the perimeter established by responding officers, Everett said. The Costa Mesa Police Department SWAT team responded and attempted to negotiate with Fernandez, Everett said.

As negotiations continued, Fernandez displayed a gun which led to an officer-involved shooting at about 6:35 p.m., Everett said. Fernandez was taken to OC Global Medical Center in Santa Ana and is expected to survive, Everett said.

Fernandez was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, Everett said.

Two handguns were recovered from Hernandez, he said.

No officers or civilians were injured in the shootings.