Chula Vista police officers, suspect identified in Spring Valley shootout
Feb 04, 2026
Authorities on Wednesday identified two Chula Vista police officers and a 30-year-old man who allegedly exchanged gunfire following a vehicle pursuit and collision in Spring Valley last week.
The shooting occurred around 5:40 p.m. Jan. 29. The incident began when police investigated a domestic viole
nce report involving a firearm at an apartment complex on Paseo Monti in Chula Vista, according to San Diego police Lt. Lou Maggi. San Diego police are investigating the incident under an agreement that prevents departments from investigating their own officers.
Officers were later directed to a burgundy Chevrolet Tahoe driven by the suspect, later identified as Spring Valley resident Archie Armstrong, Maggi said.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but Armstrong refused to comply and drove toward officers, nearly striking one of them, according to police.
Armstrong then collided with another vehicle occupied by two people near the intersection of Sweetwater Road and Tyler Street in Spring Valley, police said.
One of the occupants was transported to a hospital with a complaint of pain and later released, according to police.
“Armstrong exited his vehicle and shot at the … officers with a handgun as he ran from the scene,” Maggi said in a statement.
Officer James Alvarez-Raigoza and Sgt. Robert Murgia returned fire, striking Armstrong in the leg, police said.
Armstrong was taken to a hospital for treatment and is expected to be booked into county jail on multiple charges, including attempted murder of a police officer, police said.
Alvarez-Raigoza, a four-year veteran of the Chula Vista Police Department, and Murgia, a 24-year department veteran, were not injured in the shooting, authorities said.
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