1 Suspect Dead In I-215 Deputy-Involved Shooting Near Menifee

RIVERSIDE COUNTY — Calling it standard department policy, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday that its deputies involved in Tuesday's fatal shooting on Interstate 215 will be placed on administrative leave, and the Riverside County District Attorney's Office will lead an investigation into the incident.

The shooting, which authorities said took place shortly before 6 p.m., just south of Ethanac Road, resulted in the death of a male suspect at a local hospital. The suspect, who was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, had led police on a high-speed chase before exiting his vehicle and attempting to run away. He was armed with a handgun, the sheriff's department said.

In a news release, the sheriff's department said its deputies rendered medical aid to the suspect at the scene, before he was transported to a local hospital. However, the suspect's health declined at the hospital and he succumbed to his injuries. His identity has not been released.

According to reports, at about 4:40 p.m., border patrol agents encountered the suspect near Lake Elsinore after being informed by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department that the man was armed and wanted for assault with a deadly weapon.

After following the suspect southbound on Interstate 15, the agents, who were in plain clothes and driving an unmarked patrol vehicle, observed the suspect exit the highway and park at a gas station.

When the agents attempted to apprehend the man, he drove his vehicle toward the officers, striking two border patrol vehicles and fleeing the area. At that point, the border patrol agents requested assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Around 4:50 p.m., sheriff's deputies from Southwest Sheriff's Station and the Special Enforcement Bureau, located the suspect's vehicle in Temecula and attempted a vehicle stop. However, the suspect failed to yield, instead fleeing at a high rate of speed. A pursuit was initiated.

According to the sheriff's department, the chase traveled through multiple areas within Temecula and Menifee and onto I-215, traveling both north and south and at times reaching high rates of speed into oncoming traffic.

Heading northbound on I-215, the suspect's vehicle slowed down, and then stopped near the center median, just south of Ethanac Road. The suspect then exited the vehicle and, armed with a handgun, fled on foot, jumping over the center median and running into the southbound lanes of I-215. That's when the shooting took place, the sheriff's department reported.

The sheriff's department said no deputies were injured during the incident. Also, there are no outstanding suspects and there is no threat to the public.

After the incident, I-215 was closed in both directions, between state Route 74 and McCall Boulevard, through the night but was fully reopened early Wednesday morning.

The sheriff's department said the investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact District Attorney Investigator Munoz at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Gomez at 951-955-2777.