RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — An off-duty sheriff’s deputy helped bring a deadly sequence of events to a close after driving into the path of a fleeing motorcyclist suspected of fatally shooting San Bernardino County Deputy Andrew Nunez, NBC News reported.
The incident began when deputies responded to a report of a man threatening a woman with a gun in Rancho Cucamonga, about 45 miles east of Los Angeles, according to the report. The suspect opened fire as deputies arrived, striking Nunez in the head. The 28-year-old deputy later died at a hospital. He was a six-year veteran of the department, a father to a 2-year-old daughter, and expecting another child.
The suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle, triggering a high-speed pursuit during which he reached speeds of over 150 mph, officials said. The pursuit ended when an off-duty deputy driving an unmarked Sheriff’s Department vehicle intervened by positioning the car in the path of the motorcycle.
“The pursuit came to a conclusion with an off-duty deputy sheriff who put himself on duty and conducted a legal intervention by hitting the suspect on the motorcycle,” said Sheriff Shannon D. Dicus.
Video of the incident showed the motorcyclist tumbling onto the freeway as the bike slid across the pavement. Law enforcement quickly moved in and restrained the man before paramedics arrived. He was later airlifted to a hospital, where he was stabilized and remains under medical care, according to the report.
Officials said the suspect is expected to be booked on suspicion of murder once he is medically cleared.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said a charging decision would be made in the coming days.
In honor of Nunez, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the State Capitol flown at half-staff, saying Nunez’s “courage, compassion, and dedication to protecting others reflect the finest traditions of law enforcement.”
