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Parolee fatally shot by Calif. police after wounding officer

San Francisco Chronicle

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Redwood City police shot and killed a parolee after he opened fire on officers trying to arrest him late Thursday, police said Friday.

One officer was shot in the leg during the exchange, but his injury is not considered life-threatening, police said.

The San Mateo County coroner’s office identified the slain man as Edward A. Reyes, 49, of Patterson in Stanislaus County, but prosecutors said Reyes had been living with his brother in Redwood City for some time.

Police said they went to that home at 1085 17th Ave. to arrest Reyes for a parole violation shortly before 10 p.m. As officers took up positions around the house, Reyes appeared in a side door from the garage and opened fire, police said.

Officers then returned fire, killing Reyes, police said.

The shooting is being jointly investigated by the San Mateo County district attorney’s office and Redwood City police.

“We’re keeping an open mind,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. “There’s interviews being conducted, and we’re investigating what happened.”

Reyes had two felony strikes under California’s three-strikes law, including being sentenced to 32 months in prison in 2000 for possession of a deadly weapon, Wagstaffe said. It was unclear from available records what the other strike was for.

Copyright 2007 San Francisco Chronicle