A suspect died in a deputy-involved shooting on Tuesday on Interstate 215, south of Ethanac Road.
On June 15 at about 4:40 p.m., Border Patrol agents working routine patrol in plain clothes and driving unmarked patrol vehicles encountered a suspect who they had been informed was armed and wanted by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department for assault with a deadly weapon, authorities said.
Agents followed the suspect southbound on Interstate 15 near Lake Elsinore before he exited and parked at a nearby gas station. When agents attempted to take the suspect into custody, he drove his vehicle toward the agents and struck two Border Patrol vehicles as he fled the area, authorities said. Border Patrol requested assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
The suspect was located in the City of Temecula at about 4:50 p.m. A vehicle stop was initiated but the suspect failed to yield and fled at a high rate of speed. A pursuit was initiated. The pursuit traveled through multiple areas within the cities Temecula and Menifee and onto Interstate 215, traveling both north and south and at times reaching high rates of speed into oncoming traffic, authorities said.
The vehicle came to a stop near the center median of the northbound Interstate 215, just south of Ethanac Road. Armed with a handgun, the suspect fled on foot, jumping over the center median and into the southbound lanes of the freeway, authorities said. At that time, a deputy-involved shooting occurred.
Deputies rendered medical aid to the suspect before he was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, according to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.
No deputies were injured during this incident, authorities said. Per department policy, the involved deputies will be placed on administrative leave. Their names have not been released at this time.
This is an active investigation. Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact District Attorney Investigator Munoz at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Gomez at 951-955-2777.
