Details Emerge In Shootout, Chase That Left Man Dead, Deputies Wounded

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A man was killed and four Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies were injured in an early-morning shootout in west Santa Rosa.

Deputies responded to a report of a person brandishing a rifle shortly after midnight Monday in unincorporated west Santa Rosa. When they found the suspect, it is alleged he led them on a pursuit.

It is alleged that during the pursuit, the suspect stopped, fired shots at the deputies, and then continued the pursuit.

"Deputies returned fire and, ultimately, the suspect crashed the vehicle he was driving," the sheriff's office said.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not released by the sheriff's office.

Four deputies were injured: one with a gunshot wound to the leg, two with injuries to their hands, and one with a head injury who was in critical but stable condition.

Around 1:17 a.m. Monday, the sheriff's office sent a community alert stating it was working an incident on Stony Point Road. The public was advised the surrounding roadways — Stony Point Road south of Bellevue Avenue and Todd Road west of U.S. Highway 101— were closed until further notice.

The Santa Rosa Police Department responded to take over the investigation per the county's protocol for critical incidents.

At 2:35 a.m., the Santa Rosa Police Department sent an email update about the road closures stating that Stony Point Road south of Bellevue Avenue to Todd Road was indefinitely closed, as was Todd Road between Stony Point and Moreland Avenue.

"Please find alternate routes if this area impacts you or your morning commute," SRPD said.

In an update at 2:55 p.m. Monday, the police department said Stony Point Road was reopened but Todd Road between Moorland Avenue and Primrose Avenue remained closed indefinitely until further notice.

At 6:54 p.m., all roads were reopened, police said.

Statement From Santa Rosa Police Department:

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office invoked the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Employee-involved critical incident protocol and requested that the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office lead an independent investigation into the events that led to the fatal officer-involved shooting.

The Santa Rosa Police Department’s Violent Crime Team took over the investigation and its field and evidence technicians were processing the crime scenes.

Shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, the Santa Rosa Police Department released its initial statement about the incident. Here are the department's findings thus far:

The sheriff's office received a 911 call at 12:10 a.m. Monday about a man brandishing a firearm in the vicinity of Stony Point Road and Todd Road in an unincorporated county area of west Santa Rosa.

Deputies were advised the suspect was possibly driving a white four-door sedan in the area. One deputy saw the car being driven on Todd Road near Standish Avenue.

Less than a minute later, the deputy advised "shots fired" over the radio.

"The investigation is still in its preliminary stages, and we cannot confirm at this time if the suspect, the deputy, or both fired shots," Santa Rosa police Sgt. Patricia Seffens said. "A rifle, believed to be in the possession of the suspect at the time of this incident, was later recovered."

The Santa Rosa Police Department will release specific information about the rifle later, pending a complete examination and evidence processing.

After the first "shots fired" call, the suspect led sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit westbound on Todd Road.

Approximately 10 minutes after the initial 911, the suspect’s car collided with a fence in the 3200 block of Stony Point Road. It was at this location that both the suspect and deputies exchanged gunfire.

The possibility of shots being fired by the suspect or deputies before the pursuit's conclusion is also being investigated by Santa Rosa police detectives, Seffens said.

Deputies with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department responded to the crash scene and immediately began rendering medical aid to the suspect as well as several deputies injured in the incident.

The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. His name was being withheld the notification of his next of kin. Police expect his name will be released Tuesday.

The Santa Rosa Police Department will disclose the cause of death following an autopsy, which is scheduled for later this week.

Four sheriff’s deputies were taken by ambulance to an area hospital. One deputy suffered a leg injury, two deputies sustained hand injuries, and the fourth deputy suffered a significant head injury and remained in critical condition Monday.

The nature of their respective injuries was still being investigated and police were not able to comment on the nature of their respective injuries because that was still being investigated, Seffens said.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available throughout the investigation.