BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened Sunday afternoon in East Bakersfield, leaving a suspect with major injuries.
No police were injured in the incident.
According to the Bakersfield Police Department, officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation at E 3rd St. and Clifton St. at 4 p.m. The stop resulted in a vehicle pursuit.
Police said at the intersection of E Brundage Ln. and Cottonwood Rd., the suspect vehicle was involved in an accident with a civilian. The civilian driver is okay, according to police.
The suspect fled from his vehicle and began shooting at officers. An exchange of gunfire with officers happened at the AM/PM store on Cottonwood and E Brundage. As officers pursued the suspect, the suspect continued to shoot at officers at the overpass of Highway 58 and Cottonwood. That's when police say the suspect ran into the parking lot of the nearby Fiesta Food Market.
Police say the suspect sat down and began speaking with officers, but for unknown reasons, another exchange of gunfire started with the suspect and he was struck multiple times.
"From the information that I had, the suspect did fire at officers first. That was just confirmed with some witness statements at the scene. And the officers exchanged gunfire with him twice before getting to the market," said BPD Lt. Rick Dossey.
BPD said the suspect was transported to a local hospital suffering from major injuries and is in critical condition. No officers were injured. Police said six total officers were involved in all shootouts with the suspect.
Cottonwood, Brundage, and Feliz Dr. were closed for several hours as police investigated.
