By Joanna Putman
Police1
TEHAMA COUNTY, Calif. — Newly released video shows a man shooting a CHP officer before driving away in a cruiser, KCRA reported.
The October 2023 incident began when an officer approached a white Honda parked on the shoulder of an interstate, initially believing it to be a disabled vehicle. The car had tinted windows and a sunshade covering the front windshield, video released Aug. 5 shows.
Dash camera footage shows the officer approaching the vehicle on the passenger side and asking the driver to roll down the window. The driver refused, exited the vehicle and immediately shot the officer.
The officer took cover. One minute after the officer’s initial stop, the driver began shooting again, hitting the officer once more. The driver then stole the patrol car and drove erratically on the freeway.
The driver veered in front of an 18-wheeler, causing the truck to flip on its side and the cruiser to catch fire.
The suspect managed to exit the vehicle and was subsequently taken into custody. He was transported to a hospital where he later died, according to the report. The officer, who was shot in the abdomen, shoulder and leg, has physically recovered and returned to duty.
CHP chopper video taken after the incident shows evidence markers indicating how dangerously close the gunshots came to other drivers.
