San Diego

Police on Friday released the identity of the man shot and killed by police during a robbery attempt at a market near Del Mar.

Donald Evans, 21, of San Diego, died outside the Big Bear Super Market, 2707 Via de la Valle. A second man, identified as James Wiggers, 25, of San Diego, surrendered outside the market. He was booked into County Jail downtown on suspicion of murder, robbery, burglary and auto theft. He will be arraigned Wednesday.

The two men are suspected members of the so-called “Get Down Gang,” a group of men police suspect of robbing more than eight grocery stores.

The incident occurred just as the store was closing about 9 p.m., store employees said. Two men forced their way into the supermarket brandishing handguns and wearing hooded sweat shirts. The robbers emptied the cash registers and then ordered the assistant manager, Mark Whritner, to open the store’s safe.

“One of them hit me in the head with a gun and then held it to my head,” said Whritner, who opened the safe. “He kept yelling, ‘You got four seconds. You got one more chance, buddy, or I’ll blow your head off.’ ‘

Police accosted Wiggers and Evans just as the two men left the store and ordered them to stop, said Sgt. Chuck Sleeper. Wiggers followed the command, but officers shot Evans after he allegedly turned toward the officers with a gun in his hand, Sleeper said. The police had witnessed the robbery during a stakeout at the location.

During a robbery, a member of the “Get Down Gang” orders everyone to get down on the floor, takes the money and then escapes in a stolen vehicle. Police said the robbers used this same order and a stolen car believed to be the getaway vehicle was found in the store’s parking lot.