A Harbor Police officer was wounded and a suspected gunman dressed in tactical clothing was killed Wednesday morning in a shootout in Little Italy as officers searched for a man who fatally gunned down two people less than a mile away.

The officer was taken to a hospital in Hillcrest, San Diego police Lt. Daniel Meyer said.

A Harbor police spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon that the injured officer was out of surgery and “he is fine.” He was expected to recover, officials said.

Just after 8:20 a.m., police responded to a shooting at the corner of West A Street and Union Street and found that a man and a woman inside a vehicle had been shot, Capt. Manny Del Toro said. Both victims died.

Police are still sorting out the relationship between the alleged gunman, believed to be in his 20s, and the two victims, but investigators believe the three knew each other.

Police fanned out downtown, launching a massive search for the gunman. Shortly after 9:05 a.m. — about 45 minutes later — Harbor Police spotted a person matching the suspects description walking in Little Italy, less than a mile away.

Two people were shot and killed in this gray vehicle on Union Street near A Street on Wednesday. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

A witness had spotted a man, armed with a handgun, and alerted Harbor Police officers in the area. The suspect was standing in the open, not attempting to conceal his weapon, Del Toro said.

One of the witnesses here described him as wearing tactical pants and tactical boots, and armed with a gun, the captain said. From what the description (was), there was no attempt to hide. He was being very blatant and very aggressive, and shooting ensued immediately with the Harbor PD.

Del Toro said it was not immediately known how the suspect got from the initial shooting scene to Little Italy, whether he had walked or driven a car.

In addition to the gun, he was carrying knives, Del Toro said. He fired at four Harbor Police officers. Three of them returned fire.

San Diego police investigate a scene were a suspect and Harbor Police officer exchanged gunfire on Juniper Street in Little Italy on Wednesday. The suspect was wanted for a prior shooting in which two people were shot and killed. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

There was a shootout, Del Toro said. There were multiple rounds fired by the suspect. One of those rounds hit the Harbor Police officer.

After the suspect was hit, officers provided medical assistance and transported him to a hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly after 10 a.m.

The injured Harbor Police officer was struck in his upper leg and was also transported to the hospital, where he was expected to recover, Del Toro said.

Police said several vehicles and a building were hit by gunfire in the shootout, which occurred on the southwest corner of Kettner Boulevard and Juniper Street. A bullet hole was clearly visible in the window of a building. No other injuries were reported, police said.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told reporters at the scene that the incident could have been much worse.

He commended Harbor Police officers for their actions.

Their ability to run towards gunfire and to courageously engage this individual I believe saved lives, Wahl said.

Police closed down several streets in Little Italy, blocking them off with yellow police tape. Del Toro said it would be several hours before investigators would reopen the streets.