June 25, 2015 - The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deadly officer involved shooting involving a Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy.
Around 4:00 A.M. Thursday morning, members of the Fresno HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) Task Force located a stolen car in Fresno County. The team conducted a surveillance operation on the car and followed the suspect into Madera County. The suspect discovered he was being followed and lead law enforcement officers to a home on the 49000 block of Road 210, near the community of Fine Gold.
The suspect got out of the car and ran toward the house. HEAT members surrounded the home and identified themselves as law enforcement. Officers and deputies exchanged dialogue with a resident inside the home (not the car theft suspect) for approximately one hour. The resident then pointed a rifle out a window of the home in the direction of officers. A Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy who is on the HEAT Task Force fired two shots with his rifle at the gunman, which struck and killed him. The Madera County Sheriff’s SWAT team searched the house and found it to be empty. Investigators are still trying to determine if there is a relationship between the deceased gunman and the auto theft suspect.
A woman who was inside the stolen vehicle has been taken into custody. The driver who fled the car has not been located. Multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching the area for this man both by air and on the ground. He is described as being white, in his mid-20s, 6 feet tall with blond hair and several tattoos. He may be wearing a black tank top, beige or blue shorts and have a cut on his forehead.
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency investigating the OIS. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is also conducting its own independent investigation. The identity of the deceased suspect is not available at this time.
Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to please contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111 or call Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).
***Fresno HEAT is comprised of members from the California Highway Patrol, Fresno County Sheriff's Office (FCSO), the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Clovis Police Department.
Source: Fresno County Sheriff
Madera County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Deadly Officer Involved Shooting
- Details
