Northbound I-15 Closure, Massive Traffic Jam, Due To Police Shootout

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — An hourslong traffic delay late Monday and into Tuesday on northbound Interstate 15 in the Inland Empire was due to a police shootout with a suspect who allegedly refused to surrender.

According to SigAlert.com, traffic remained backed up for miles at 11 a.m. Tuesday following the incident that unfurled shortly before 9 p.m. Monday when deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department began pursuing a robbery suspect in Hesperia who was considered armed and dangerous.

The chase continued through the Cajon Pass on northbound I-15 at state Route 138, which is where a spike strip was placed and several law enforcement PIT maneuvers were conducted.

The suspect, whose identity was not yet released, did not surrender. Instead, gunshots were fired and the suspect was taken into custody after crawling through a window, according to media reports.

An update on the suspect's condition was not provided.

SigAlert.com showed traffic was backed up to the 210 Freeway. According to the latest CHP report, one traffic lane is open on I-15.

KTLA’s Ginger Chan said the incident was a nightmare for drivers, some of whom were stuck for hours.

The CHP reported that multiple motorists were driving in the center divide to bypass the backup.

"People were doing a lot of stuff they shouldn’t have been to try to get around it," Chan said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries to law enforcement.