Authorities Wednesday publicly identified a 33-year-old man who was fatally shot by a group of lawmen when he allegedly shot at them with a pistol during a traffic stop in San Marcos. Four sheriff’s deputies and a Palomar College police officer opened fire on Andre Raphael Mendez of Oceanside a t about 9 p.m. last Wednesday, according to the San Diego Police Department, which investigates shootings involving other local agencies as part of a regional agreement designed to prevent conflicts of interest. Mendez died at the scene of the shootout. The events that led to the fatal exchange of gunfire began a short time earlier, when a deputy with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a red Hyundai Sonata for a vehicle code violation in the 600 block of North Twin Oaks Valley Road, about a quarter-mile south of Borden Road. “The vehicle was occupied by a 21-year-old woman in the driver’s seat and (Mendez) in the front passenger seat,” SDPD acting Lt. Christopher Leahy said. “During the traffic stop, the deputy conducted a record check of the vehicle’s license plate and VIN, which appeared inconsistent with DMV registration records. “The deputy also observed damage to the steering column, suggesting the vehicle might be stolen. The deputy then requested additional deputies to assist him with the investigation.” After the backup personnel arrived, Mendez allegedly rolled up the window next to him and ignored repeated commands to roll it back down. He then allegedly reached down and picked up a handgun from the floor of the car. “Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, (Mendez) did not comply,” Leahy said. “Deputies positioned on the driver’s side safely removed the … driver from the vehicle and escorted her to safety.” A short time later, Mendez allegedly began to raise the gun, prompting three deputies to discharge electric stun guns, to no apparent effect, according to police. Mendez then allegedly discharged two rounds, drawing return fire from Palomar College reserve police Officer Kyle Hodges and Deputies Jake Brown, Chalit Caranto, Thomas Cook, Sean Dwyer and Justin Tesar. Following the shooting, sheriff’s personnel performed lifesaving measures on Mendez, to no avail, Leahy said. No other injuries were reported. Brown has been with the sheriff’s office for six years, Caranto and Dwyer for five years each, and both Cook and Tesar for seven years. Hodges has been with the campus police agency for four years. Friends and family gathered for a vigil held in Mendez’s honor last week on Twin Oaks Valley Road where he was shot and killed. ...read more read less