Last Updated on September 30, 2019 by CCAR Staff
An armed suspect at the wheel of a semi-truck chased by deputies fired a gun at them during a High Desert chase that included return shots from a pursuing San Bernardino County sheriff’s helicopter, the department said Monday.
The suspect, who was not immediately identified, was killed in the final confrontation.
Deputies were called to the San Bernardino County area of Yucca Valley, west of Twentynine Palms around 9:40 p.m. Sunday on a report of a suspicious person in a tractor-trailer at a residence. The person who made the report, followed the vehicle and relayed a description and location to dispatchers.
There were no details immediately available about what suspicious activities prompted the call.
When deputies caught up with the semi, the driver refused to pull over and a chase started on Highway 247. A Sheriff’s Aviation helicopter joining the pursuit.
Spike strips were set out twice, and early report said, and the suspect fired at deputies.
“A deputy involved shooting occurred involving Sheriff’s Aviation,” according to the department.
The pursuit continued to Highway 62, and the suspect rammed a marked sheriff’s patrol unit and fired at a deputy, according to the department, where the gunfire was returned.
The truck left the roadway on the south side of Highway 62 and Pinion Drive, where more shots were fired from law enforcement, and the suspect was struck by gunfire and died at the scene.
One deputy was injured, but not by gunfire, and did not need medical attention, according to the department. The incident remained under investigation Monday afternoon.
This is a developing story, please check back for more details
