**BREAKING: FACT CHECK**

BREAKING: FACT CHECK

CLAIM: Posts circulating on X claim that the San Diego shooting on August 7, 2025, was an “active shooter drill that went wrong” and that police initiated the gunfire, not a suspect.

VERDICT: 🚨 FALSE.

REAL STORY: On the evening of August 7, 2025, at approximately 6:42 PM PST, San Diego Police responded to reports of a domestic disturbance in the 4300 block of Pacific Highway. Officers arrived to find a 38-year-old male armed with a handgun barricaded inside a residence.

• What actually happened: Officers attempted negotiations for 20 minutes. The suspect exited and opened fire on responding officers.
• Injuries: One officer sustained a graze wound to the shoulder. The suspect was struck and transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital in critical condition.
• The “drill” rumor: This stemmed from a misread of a police scanner audio clip. A dispatcher used the term “scenario” to describe the ongoing situation—a standard term for any critical incident—which was then selectively clipped and reposted with false captions claiming it was a training exercise.

BOTTOM LINE: No drill. No cover-up. One officer injured, one suspect hospitalized. The viral claim is baseless. Always verify before sharing.