Attempted Murder/Stabbing in Lemon Grove 

March 14, 2026 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on March 11, 2026, at approximately 1:10 P.M., Lemon Grove deputies assigned to the Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) unit provided extra patrols in the area of Lemon Grove Academy Middle School prior to students being dismissed.

While in the area, deputies located an adult male victim suffering from a stab wound before any radio call had been dispatched. Due to the injury, there was rapid and significant blood loss causing the victim to fall in and out of consciousness. Deputies applied a tourniquet and provided immediate medical care until medical personnel arrived. Because of the deputy's rapid response and decisive actions, the victim is expected to survive.

Additional deputies and detectives responded to the scene and identified the suspect as 48‑year‑old Jose Guadalupe Torres. Detectives later located Torres and attempted a traffic stop, but he failed to yield. A vehicle pursuit followed through the cities of San Diego, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, and La Mesa. Sheriff's Fugitive Tast Force and ASTREA responded to assist during the pursuit.  Torres eventually stopped his vehicle on Interstate 8 eastbound lane just before the El Cajon Boulevard exit.  Torres continuously moved his vehicle forward as deputies attempted to have him surrender.  With the assistance of La Mesa Police Department's SWAT Team's Bearcat and Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail's Bearcat, Torres' vehicle was pinned preventing him from fleeing.

Deputies assigned to the Fugitive Task Force established contact with Torres by phone and were able to safely persuade him to surrender. Torres exited his vehicle and was taken into custody without incident.

Torres will be booked into San Diego Central Jail on multiple charges, including attempted murder and felony evading. A search warrant of Torress' residence was later executed, locating possible evidence of the crime. The investigation is ongoing.

Residents of the City of Lemon Grove supported passage of Measure T in 2024, a sales tax measure which funded a variety of City service and infrastructure enhancements within the community, including two COPPS deputies dedicated to community‑oriented policing. The presence of the COPPS deputies in the community directly contributed to the swift intervention that helped save the victim’s life.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office