Gang member shot after pointing shotgun at San Bernardino police officer

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A San Bernardino police officer shot a gang member armed with a shotgun Tuesday at about 4:30 p.m., hospitalizing the suspect.

San Bernardino Police received a report of a man with a gun on the 1200 block of West Birch Street at 4:22 p.m. An arriving officer located a subject matching the description.

The subject then walked into the front yard area of a residence on Poplar Street. As the officer approached him, the suspect turned toward the officer and began to point a loaded sawed-off shotgun at the officer, according to police.

The officer, in fear for his safety, fired once, striking the suspect in the abdomen, according to police.

The suspect was taken into custody and hospitalized. He received surgery and was expected to survive.

Police said the suspect, identified as San Bernardino resident Paul Anthony Ortiz, 42, is a local gang member.

Ortiz was booked for attempted murder with weapons and gang charges, and was held in the hospital jail ward.

The officer was not injured. The shotgun was recovered at the scene.