HESPERIA, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> A pursuit suspect is deceased following an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement in the city of Hesperia early Wednesday morning. The incident also left three innocent bystanders struck by gunfire.
On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 1:42 am California Highway Patrol Officers were in pursuit of a suspect wanted for shooting at occupants in a vehicle on Tuesday evening on the Interstate 15 in Victorville.
The suspects vehicle, a white Ford Expedition, exited the freeway at Bear Valley Road and CHP requested assistance from Hesperia deputies. The suspect continued driving at high speeds throughout city streets and struck a spike strip in the area of Bear Valley Road/Cottonwood Avenue. The suspect continued driving and entered the southbound I-15. The suspect then exited at Main Street and continued to flee from officers despite having one flattened tire.
The suspect stopped on Peach Avenue at Catalpa Street when the vehicle became disabled.
A high-risk traffic stop was conducted but the suspect refused to exit the vehicle. For more than an hour, officers and deputies negotiated with the suspect to safely exit the vehicle, but he continued to ignore their commands. Less than lethal methods were used in an attempt to gain compliance and resolve the situation, but they were unsuccessful.
After more than an hour of negotiating, the suspect got out and ran to the front of the vehicle and began shooting at the officers. The suspect then ran while he continued to shoot at them. At this time, an officer involved shooting occurred and the suspect was struck.
Medical aid responded, and the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. An adult female was also in the suspect vehicle and was not injured.
The suspect’s handgun was recovered at the scene.
Moments after the shooting, a 911 caller reported three people at a nearby home were struck by gunfire. Medical aid responded to the home on Catalpa Street and found an adult male, adult female and a 14-year-old male with injuries. The victims were transported, the female and 14-year-old remain hospitalized and are expected to recover from their injuries. The adult male was treated at a local hospital and released.
The name of the deceased male suspect is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division and California Highway Patrol are on scene conducting the investigation. No other details are being released at this time. Updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information, or anyone who witnessed the incident, is asked to contact Detective Edward Hernandez, Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division at (909)387-3589. Callers can remain anonymous and contact WeTip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com.
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