Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Police Shooting Reported In Lake Elsinore

The scene turned dramatic Tuesday morning and involved a shooting, a police chase and a car crash.

UPDATE 11:37 a.m.: A routine police call in Lake Elsinore Tuesday morning erupted into gunfire after a suspect fought with a deputy and tried to flee the scene.

The incident began shortly after 5:30 a.m. when a deputy responded to the McDonald’s/Bank of America parking lot on Collier Avenue near the Target store. Reports of “suspicious persons” in the area prompted the service call, according to Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Albert Martinez.

Once on scene, a deputy confronted a male adult seated in a suspect vehicle. The deputy attempted to detain the man, but the suspect resisted while being placed into the patrol car, Martinez said.

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The suspect “physically attacked” the deputy, knocking him to the ground, Martinez continued. He grabbed the officer’s baton, and fearing for his safety the deputy fired at the suspect, Martinez added.

Meanwhile, a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy who was in route to work heard shots and responded to the scene.

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Upon the deputy’s arrival, the suspect tried to flee the scene. The deputy allegedly witnessed the suspect attempting to ram another responding officer's patrol car with the suspect vehicle. As a result, the deputy fired, Martinez said.

The perpetrator tried to drive from the scene but only made it to the area of Central Avenue and Spring Street, where he crashed into an unsuspecting motorist who was exiting the freeway, Martinez said.

A brief foot chase ensued, but the suspect -- whose identity has not yet been released -- was finally apprehended.

Martinez said the suspect was shot during the incident but is expected to survive. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The initial responding deputy who was knocked to the ground was hurt during the confrontation, Martinez said, but his injuries are non life-threatening.

The motorist who was struck by the suspect sustained minor injuries that required hospitalization, Martinez said.

The two deputies involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation, a process that is standard department policy.

ORIGINAL POST UPDATED AT 10:24 a.m.: Residents are reporting police activity throughout Lake Elsinore Tuesday morning, and a deputy has confirmed police did shoot a suspect today.

Details are sketchy, but Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Albert Martinez has confirmed that the shooting took place this morning in Lake Elsinore. He is set to release more details this morning, he said, but did not immediately provide any details on the suspect's condition.

There has been heavy police activity near the Target shopping center at McDonald's on Collier Avenue. According to unconfirmed reports, police confronted a suspect near the location around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Unconfirmed reports indicate a chase ensued to Spring Street, but there is no police activity on Spring Street at press time. A detective on scene at the Collier location confirmed that the incident "terminated" on Spring Street.

Police activity is centered at the McDonald's location, near Bank of America and Starbucks. Police tape is blocking the McDonald's entrance, according to a Patch reporter on scene.

Details to follow ….


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