Police Name Suspect, Personnel in Fatal OIS at El Cajon Police Headquarters

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the suspect’s gender and identity. The headline and identification have been changed to reflect the police update regarding the suspect’s non-binary status.

Authorities on Wednesday released the name of a suspect killed by police last week and the two El Cajon police personnel involved in the shooting.

Benjamin Grube, 24, allegedly struck a sergeant intentionally with a truck outside El Cajon Police Department headquarters. Prior to the suspect’s legal name and gender identity change, they were formally known as Andrea Elizabeth Grube.

Officer Evan Drescher and Sgt. Kevin Maxwell opened fire on Grube as the driver allegedly was making a second attempt to ram police with a 2000 Toyota Tundra, according to San Diego police, who investigate shootings on the part of El Cajon personnel under a countywide agreement intended to prevent conflicts of interest.

The chaotic incident in downtown El Cajon left Maxwell with minor injuries after being struck by the truck allegedly driven by Grube on Dec. 11, police said.

Grube allegedly accelerated the vehicle onto a sidewalk, striking the patrol sergeant as he and a lieutenant prepared for a midday retirement ceremony outside the station in the 100 block of Civic Center Way.

The truck then crashed into a tree, and the lieutenant called for backup. Police said that Grube put the truck in reverse and drove toward officers a second time. At that point, Drescher and Maxwell opened fire. Paramedics took Grube to a trauma center, where doctors pronounced them dead.

Maxwell, a 28-year veteran of the El Cajon Police Department, was treated at a local hospital and released.

Drescher has been with the ECPD for about six years. He works as a motorcycle officer assigned to the agency’s traffic unit.

The motive behind Grube’s alleged actions remains unclear, according to San Diego police. Investigators added that the release of both names used by Grube is intended to reach anyone who may have information about them.