A suspect was killed shortly after midnight Monday during a car chase and exchange of gunfire with police in Northern California, authorities said. According to reports, four members of Congress were injured, one of them in critical condition.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) said in a statement that Sonoma County sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a suspect brandishing a rifle and “spotted the suspect and then led a pursuit.” statement. “During the pursuit, the suspect stopped, fired shots at the officers, and continued the pursuit.”
Officers fired shots at the suspect, who eventually crashed his car and was pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said.
Sonoma County Police added that the shooting occurred around 12:10 a.m. in West Santa Rosa, Unred. “Four members of Congress were injured. One was shot in the leg, two were wounded in the hand, and one in the head,” the statement said. “The deputy suffered a head injury and is in serious but stable condition.”
The suspect's name has not been released, and it was not immediately clear whether he was killed in a car crash or a volley of police gunfire. (Related: Incredibly insane footage of an absolute war zone erupting in broad daylight after a suspect charges into police)
Police officers involved in the shooting were fired upon by the suspect. Multiple deputies were injured and the suspect died. Click here for details: https://t.co/9FyXCyGHoG pic.twitter.com/LARK2kkyu7
— Sonoma Sheriff (@sonomasheriff) March 4, 2024
The Santa Rosa Police Department took over the investigation while the SCSO “invoked critical incident protocols,” according to the statement.
SCSO announces arrest Last December, 64-year-old Clint Mitchell of Santa Rosa was found in possession of seven guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition while he was prohibited from possessing firearms.
SCSO said he fired his gun for two hours before police swooped in. He had reportedly been firing guns on his property for seven months and had 15 guns registered to him, even though he was recently banned from owning a gun. .
SCSO initially left Mitchell alone, but after investigating his situation, they discovered that Mitchell initially resisted and even had a “makeshift booby trap” placed in his “barricaded” home. Regardless, the suspect returned and was arrested, SCSO said.
