A suspected road rage incident between two individuals was witnessed by an off-duty officer, who subsequently intervened, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.
On September 16 at 9:13 a.m., Murrieta Police Officers responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot at 39540 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. and located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. According to the Murrieta Police Department, an off-duty police officer from the City of Hemet was at the scene, along with multiple witnesses.
Medical aid was rendered, and the victim was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition, the department said.
The preliminary information has led investigators to believe a road rage incident between two individuals occurred and was witnessed by the off-duty officer, who subsequently intervened, and the officer-involved shooting occurred.
A handgun was located at the scene and the off-duty officer is cooperating with the investigation, the department said in a news release. “All gunshots have been accounted for and no other people were injured by the gunfire,” the department said.
The Murrieta Police Department adheres to the Riverside County protocol for responding to officer-involved shootings, also known as the Riverside County Force Investigation Detail (FID) protocol. The Murrieta Police Department said it will investigate this case with its partner agencies, the Riverside District Attorney’s Office, and the Riverside Sheriff’s Department. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office will complete an independent review of this incident.
