Man fatally shot himself, causing officers to take cover in Normal Heights

San Diego police officers responding to a requested welfare check were walking up to the front door of a home in Normal Heights when a man fatally turned a gun on himself, investigators said.

The incident was first reported around 3:30 p.m. when officers received a call from a man saying he was experiencing medical distress at a home on 40th Street near Meade Avenue, Officer Colin Steinbroner said.

When officers arrived and approached the front door of the home, they reportedly heard a gunshot inside the house, Steinbroner said. No officers were struck or injured by the round, but they pulled back and requested backup.

A SWAT team was requested because officers believe the armed suspect had barricaded himself inside a residence and possibly fired the shot at them, Steinbroner said. After several hours of attempting to contact the person inside the home, officers found a way to see inside the house and saw the man down.

He suffered one gunshot wound to the chest and died before he could be taken to a hospital, Steinbroner said.

Officers began breaking down the perimeter around 7 p.m.