Officer Involved Shooting
updated: Aug 01, 2012, 11:57 AM

Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department

Updated Information from the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department released on 8/1/12: The decedent in this case has been identified as Jose Naveja (DOB: 6-6-1941) of Sebring, Florida.

The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office is investigating an officer involved shooting in Santa Maria this morning that resulted in the death of a male suspect.

The incident began shortly before 9:00pm on July 30, 2012, when deputies responded to a 911 call in the 200 block of Broadway Avenue. The victim told dispatchers that she was threatened by a suspect who was armed with a gun. A sheriff's sergeant spotted the suspect at a nearby gas station. The suspect told the sergeant he was armed and had guns in his vehicle. The suspect failed to comply with the sergeant's orders and lead sheriff's deputies, officers from the California Highway Patrol, and officers from the Santa Maria Police Department on a slow speed pursuit through the city of Santa Maria.

The suspect's vehicle came to a stop at the north end of Preisker Lane. The suspect threw several guns out of his car. A short time later the suspect got out of his car and picked up a gun confronting the officers, that is when shots were fired killing the suspect.

The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office will handle the investigation as detectives determine the circumstances of the incident, including how many shots were fired and by whom. Due to the early stage of the investigation there is no other information being released at this time.

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