A Turlock Police chase that began about 6:45am, in the 1100 block of N. Golden State Blvd, ended at the Highway 99 Bradbury overpass with a suspect shot dead, a police officer shot in the leg, and an innocent person driving by shot at.
The incident started at approximately 6:20am today when Turlock Police Officers located a vehicle in the 1100 block of N. Golden State Boulevard that they had been looking for. The vehicle had previously been involved in a pursuit with Turlock Police on July 24, 2012.
A white male approached the vehicle and as Officers approached, he ran from the Officers. As he was running he brandished a handgun.
He was able to get back to his the vehicle and a pursuit began. The suspect fled westbound on Fulkerth Road and then southbound Highway 99. He took the Bradbury off ramp and as he got to the top of the off ramp he moved to the passenger side of the vehicle and jumped out. Officers pursed him and he tried to carjack a vehicle that was driving west on Bradbury Road in Merced County.
The suspect shot into the vehicle he was attempting to carjack and Officers fired in protection of the victim striking the suspect who died at the scene. One Officer was struck in the leg and transported to the hospital and since has been released.
The body of the suspect shot to death was still at the scene covered on the Bradbury overpass as the investigation continued at 10:45am. The overpass was still blocked off as of 10:45am.
Merced County Sheriff’s Department is handling the criminal investigation and Turlock Police Department will be conducting an administrative investigation.
According to Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin, the Investigation is preliminary and the identification of the decedent is pending upon notification of family.
Nothing further will be released until that has been completed.
Turlock Police Chief Robert Jackson and Sheriff Mark Pazin will hold a news conference on Sunday July 29, 2012.
The Turlock Police Department is an active participant in the Crime Stoppers Program. Callers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 and may be eligible for a cash reward.
