Officer Involved Shooting
updated: Aug 06, 2012, 3:28 PM

Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office

The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department is investigating the circumstances of an officer involved shooting which took place within its jurisdiction on Highway 1 and Black Rd in the unincorporated area of Santa Maria. The shooting occurred at the termination of a pursuit between an armed suspect and Santa Maria City Police Officers.

The incident began shortly after 6pm on Thursday evening (8-2-12) when the Santa Maria Police Department received a 911 call from a motorist who claimed another motorist had brandished a firearm at them in the area of Mill and School Rd. in the City of Santa Maria. 911 Dispatchers received a second call describing a similar incident in the same area. Officer's from the Santa Maria Police Department responded to the area, and located a vehicle matching the description given by callers. Santa Maria Police Officer's attempted to pull the car over, but instead the suspect led officers on a pursuit that lasted the better part of an hour.

The pursuit traveled through the City of Santa Maria, north on Highway 101 into San Luis Obispo County then across Division into the Guadalupe area. From there the suspect led pursuing officers out Highway 1, back towards unincorporated Santa Maria. The Pursuing Santa Maria officer's solicited the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, who successfully deployed a spike strip, incapacitating the vehicle on Highway 1 just south of Black Rd.

The suspect's vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway. The suspect exited his vehicle and confronted the pursuing officers with a weapon in his hand. The pursuing officers from the Santa Maria Police Department, defending themselves from the armed suspect, fired at the suspect. The suspect was struck and was fell to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene. During the subsequent investigation and forensic examination of the scene, investigators discovered that the weapon the suspect brandished was a replica firearm.

The Santa Maria Police Department was the only agency involved in the shooting. Since the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, the Sheriff's Office is the lead investigating agency. The Santa Maria Police Department will conduct a concurrent review of their policies and their officer's actions during this incident (commonly referred to as the administrative investigation).

No officer's were injured during this incident. The name of the suspect is being withheld pending confirmation of identity and notification of next of kin. The number of officer's and number of rounds fired, as well as whether the suspect fired his weapon will be determined during the course of the investigation. Highway 1 remained closed between Clark and Black Roads until approximately 3am.

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