Armed suspect slain by sheriff ’s deputy

A Solano County sheriff 's deputy shot and killed an armed suspect early Sunday after responding to a robbery in progress in Fairfield, police said.

Police have not released the name of the suspect or the deputy, though the Solano County Sheriff's office said in a statement that the officer was a member of the canine team and initially used his dog to “apprehend the suspect.” The department confirmed that the suspect died at the scene.

The confrontation occurred in the area of Central Way and Pittman Road in Fairfield, where police responded to reports of the armed robbery Sunday at about 3 a.m.

The deputy initially “deployed his K9” to catch the suspect, who was reportedly armed with a gun, officials said.

“The suspect, who was in possession of a polymer 80 handgun, fired several rounds at responding officers,” Monica Martinez, a spokesperson for the Solano County District Attorney's office, said in a statement Sunday afternoon. “A Solano County sheriff 's department canine deputy returned fire with his service weapon, striking the suspect.”

Polymer 80 is a manufacturer of guns that do not have serial numbers and can be bought in parts online without a background check. The firearms are sometimes referred to as “ghost guns” because they lack serial numbers, making it difficult for police to trace their origins or locate owners when they are used in criminal activity.

The use of ghost guns in the Bay Area has spiked in recent years.

The district attorney's office and a special task force have begun investigating the shooting death in accordance with county policy, Martinez said, adding that the Solano County Sheriff's Department is not involved in the investigation.

It was unclear Sunday morning whether the shooting was captured on body-worn cameras.