Suspect Killed After High Speed Hwy. 85 Pursuit

San Jose police officers shot and killed a man Saturday afternoon following a high speed pursuit in which the suspect rammed at least three marked police cars, a police spokesman said.

The suspect was first spotted driving alone near Union and South Bascom avenues in San Jose just after 2:30 p.m. by an officer patrolling the
area, according to Officer Albert Morales.

The officer, who was patrolling due to a recent increase in burglaries in the area, thought the vehicle looked suspicious and attempted to make a traffic stop. However, the suspect immediately took off at a high rate of speed, Morales said.

The officer let the suspect go at that point without a pursuit, because there was no actual crime.

However, he continued to patrol the area and a short time later, the suspect reappeared and drove directly at the officer, allegedly ramming his marked cruiser, Morales said.

The officer and other police pursued the suspect on to southbound state Highway 85 at high speeds.

The initial officer had to drop out of the pursuit due to damage to his vehicle, but before he did stated that the suspect appeared to be pointing something like a firearm in his direction, Morales said.

During the pursuit, officers and civilians report seeing the suspect flinging things out of the car windows as he drove on the freeway.

In addition, at some point in the pursuit the suspect appears to have struck two additional marked police cars, Morales said.

The pursuit ended on Blossom Avenue near Gettysburg Drive when the suspect stopped because his left rear wheel was severely damaged.

The suspect exited the vehicle, but officers opened fire because they thought that he was concealing something and perceived a threat, Morales said.

Two officers fired and struck the suspect, and he was declared dead at the scene.

Police have not located a weapon at the scene but are still canvassing the stretch of freeway where the suspect was seen discarding items, Morales said.

The public has returned some items that were discarded, including a woman's purse and a bag full of baseball bats.

Police are also investigating whether the car the suspect was driving was an unreported stolen vehicle, Morales said.

The officers involved in the shooting will be put on leave pending an investigation, as is standard procedure in such incidents, Morales said.

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