SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. — A California sheriff’s deputy and a suspect are dead after gunfire erupted during a chase in Yucca Valley, authorities said.
According to KABC-TV and the San Bernardino Sun, the deadly shooting occurred after an attempted traffic stop Monday afternoon. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said deputies tried to stop the driver of a motorcycle without a plate about 12:30 p.m. near Imperial Drive and Paxton Road. The suspect failed to stop and fled, sparking a chase, the department said in a Facebook post.
“During the pursuit, the driver fled on foot into the desert,” the post read. “While searching for the suspect, a deputy assigned to the Morongo Basin Station was shot.”
Sheriff McMahon provides an update on the incident in Yucca Valley— Today at about 12:33 p.m., deputies assigned to the...
Posted by San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department on Monday, May 31, 2021
The deputy, 43-year-old Sgt. Dominic Vaca, was flown to a nearby hospital, where he died, authorities said.
As the suspect continued to flee on foot, he shot at more deputies, who returned fire, the department said. The suspect was struck and killed, authorities said.
In an overnight tweet, Sheriff John McMahon said Vaca had worked for the department for 17 years.
Sergeant Vaca served 17 years with the Department and was a sergeant at the Morongo Basin Station. pic.twitter.com/smaMdADwMH
— San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) June 1, 2021
Officials have not released the suspect’s name, the news outlets reported.
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