Vallejo police shoot armed driver after crash in Oakland
An armed man who led Vallejo police on a 40-mile chase through three Bay Area counties opened fire on officers first, prompting officers to shoot him several times in Oakland, authorities said Friday.
The man, whose name has not been released, remained in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital Friday, a day after the shooting.
The unusual highspeed chase began in Vallejo just after 3:45 p.m. Thursday, and moved from freeway to freeway: Interstate 80 in Vallejo, Interstate 780 in Benicia, Interstate 680 in Contra Costa County and Highway 24 from Walnut Creek to Oakland. Speeds reached up to 120 mph.
The suspect drove off the freeway in Oakland and crashed at 22nd Avenue and International Blvd., where the exchange of gunfire occurred, police said.
The incident began after a person called 911 and reported that a man, armed with an assault rifle and pistol and wearing body armor, was parked outside his house in the Glen Cove neighborhood of Vallejo, said Capt. Lee Horton, a Vallejo police spokesman.
“The person who was reporting it to us was fearful for his safety,” Horton said, adding that the 911 caller was a “credible” witness who knew the suspect.
When the suspect saw police, he took off and the chase began.
Police, however, have refused to provide additional information about the suspect, including his name, whether he was arrested or had a criminal record.
The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by Oakland police and being internally probed by Vallejo police.
On Friday, Vallejo police released an eightsentence statement explaining that the chase began as they were conducting an investigation “involving serious criminal threats” without elaboration on those threats.
Horton said that police have to be careful about how aggressively they pursue suspects in high-speed chases to make sure bystanders don’t get hurt.
Vallejo police officials have not publicly identified the officers involved in the shooting — nor have they stated whether the involved officers are on administrative leave, as is typical after officerinvolved shootings.
They have said that none of the officers were injured.
“All the officers are well and dealing with the fact that a heavily armed suspect in possession of multiple illegal high-power weapons and wearing body armor tried to kill them while they were performing their sworn duty to protect the community,” said Vallejo Police Chief Andrew Bidou. “I shudder to think what kind of tragedy was averted by the brave actions of these officers. I, like most people, wish instances like this would never happen but as long as our society produces such individuals willing to create such harm, I am thankful and grateful that we have police officers who are willing to risk their lives for others.”
Although the suspect is in police custody, his name will not be released until the Alameda County district attorney files charges, police said.
Teresa Drenick, an Alameda County deputy district attorney, said Friday that she did not have any information on the suspect.