SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. (PSN)— Two Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies shot and wounded a suspected carjacker early Friday after authorities said he drove a stolen vehicle directly toward deputies who were standing outside their patrol vehicles on Watt Avenue.
The incident began around 5:20 a.m. when the Sheriff’s Communications Center received a report of a possible vehicle burglary in progress in the 5700 block of Hesper Way, according to a news release issued Friday by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
A woman who was at work reportedly saw an adult man attempting to burglarize her husband’s vehicle through a home surveillance system. She alerted her husband, who was at the residence, and then called 911.
Authorities said the husband confronted the suspect and was physically attacked. The victim attempted to retreat into his home, but the suspect allegedly pursued him and attacked him again before stealing his keys and fleeing in the victim’s vehicle.
Deputies later located the stolen vehicle near Manzanita and Madison avenues and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver refused to yield, prompting a pursuit, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies initially attempted an unsuccessful Pursuit Intervention Technique, commonly known as a PIT maneuver. The pursuit continued until deputies deployed a tire-deflation device and successfully performed a PIT maneuver on southbound Watt Avenue, just south of Edison Avenue.
After the vehicle stopped, deputies exited their patrol vehicles and ordered the suspect to surrender. The Sheriff’s Office said the suspect restarted the vehicle, drove northbound in the southbound lanes and rapidly accelerated across the center median toward deputies who were on foot.
Authorities said the suspect’s actions created an immediate threat to the deputies’ lives, prompting two deputies to fire their duty weapons.
The vehicle stopped, and deputies removed the suspect without further incident. After determining he had been struck by gunfire, deputies immediately provided medical aid.
The suspect was transported to a hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening. His identity was not immediately released.
The carjacking victim was treated at a hospital and released. No deputies were injured.
The Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Professional Standards Division are investigating the shooting, which is standard procedure following a deputy-involved shooting. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent review.
The deputies who fired their weapons will be placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, in accordance with Sheriff’s Office policy.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.