A driver is dead after a pursuit that began Monday night ended in gunfire on westbound Highway 50 near Hazel Avenue early Tuesday. The California Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on Folsom Boulevard just after 11:20 p.m. because it was driving without headlights. The driver fled, sparking a chase through Rancho Cordova and Fair Oaks. Spike strips finally brought the car to a stop around 12:05 a.m., and that’s when the situation turned deadly.
According to officials, the driver exited the vehicle holding what appeared to be a gun. Officers from CHP, the Citrus Heights Police Department, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office opened fire, killing the driver. No officers were injured, but investigators have not confirmed whether a weapon was actually recovered at the scene. The driver’s identity has not been released.
The aftermath of the shooting shut down westbound Highway 50 from Hazel Avenue to Sunrise Boulevard for more than nine hours, with the freeway finally reopening just before 9:20 a.m. That left thousands of Sacramento commuters stuck in traffic during the Tuesday morning rush. As the multi-agency investigation continues, many in the community are asking how three separate law enforcement groups coordinated their response and what exactly happened in those final moments. What questions do you have about this incident? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
