Police wound suspect in shooting of boy, 8

A 32- year- old man wanted in a drive- by shooting in Concord that left an 8- year- old boy severely wounded was himself shot by police and critically injured in a confrontation Monday in Fairfield, authorities said.

James Jarrard of Concord was wanted on a $ 1.1 million arrest warrant after he allegedly shot the boy in the neck outside the boy’s home on the 2900 block of La Salle Avenue in Concord on Friday. Just before the shooting, the boy was playing and surrounded by family members, who know the suspect, police said.

It was unclear for whom the bullet was intended, said Cpl. Christopher Blakely of the Concord Police Department, adding that Jarrard has an extensive criminal history, including evading police, and was on parole for a burglary offense.

Meanwhile, the young victim underwent surgery Friday night and was expected to survive. As of Sunday, Blakely said, the boy still had the bullet lodged in his neck.

Monday’s confrontation on the 3400 block of North Texas Street in Fairfield came after a concerned citizen recognized Jarrard from media reports after Friday’s shooting and, when officers arrived, the suspect ran away, police said. Officers pursued the suspect, who was hit by gunfire in the chase, said Officer Cade Beckwith of the Fairfield Police Department. Jarrard was transported to a nearby trauma center.