Santa Clara: Police shoot suspect in car theft

A Santa Clara police officer shot and wounded a suspected car thief when the suspect rammed a patrol car after he was pulled over and attempted to escape, police said Saturday.

The suspect, Omar Gomez, 24, of San Jose stole the car from a Sunnyvale home shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday, police say, prompting authorities in that city to issue a bulletin with a description of the car.

A patrol officer spotted the vehicle at 1:40 a.m. on El Camino Real in Santa Clara. He and another officer stopped the car at the intersection of Scott Boulevard, police said.

“The officers got out of their vehicles, and that’s when the driver put it into reverse and rammed the front of the patrol car,” said Lt. Dan Moreno of the Santa Clara Police Department. “Then he put it in drive and revved the engine. He was heading toward the officer when he fired.”

Moreno said the officer, whose name was not released, fired “more than one” shot because he feared for his life after the suspect failed to listen to commands.

The officers provided Gomez with first aid until paramedics arrived and took him to a local hospital. He underwent surgery and was listed in stable condition Saturday.

Gomez, who does not possess a driver’s license, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, driving a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property and violating his parole on an earlier burglary conviction.

The officer involved in the shooting was placed on routine paid administrative leave while the investigation continues, Gomez said.