Camp Fire shooting: Officers kill wanted man inside California wildfire evacuation zone

Sam Gross | Redding

Show Caption Hide Caption Camp Fire survivor describes her terrifying evacuation Evacuees from Northern California describe an "apocalyptic" scene as they fled the deadly Camp Fire.

REDDING, California – Multiple deputies were involved in an incident Thursday where a 48-year-old wanted felon was shot and killed after a high-speed pursuit inside the evacuation zone of the Camp Fire in Northern California.

Deputies began the pursuit after receiving calls about a suspicious person near a hardware store. Law enforcement inside the evacuation zone of the wildfire, which is the deadliest and most destructive in the state’s history, are on high alert for suspicious people and looters.

Thousands of first responders from across the country have descended on the area. Their primary task has been to assist in the disaster relief effort and keep the area safe.

“We’ve definitely been dealing with many other things, this is not something we wanted to be involved with,” said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, whose office is handling the investigation into the shooting.

Authorities are not yet releasing the identity of the man killed, pending the notification of his next of kin.

Ramsey didn’t give details about what the 48-year-old suspect was doing in the area, but he stressed he is not suspected of looting.

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The resident who alerted officers to the suspect's presence said he seemed to have been in the area for about three days.

No deputies were injured in the incident, but a Sutter County Sheriff’s office K9 was killed when deputies opened fire on the suspect. The man’s pit bull, which was in his car before getting out and attacking the Sutter County K9, was also killed.

Deputies from Shasta and Butte counties were involved in the shooting, as well as a Fish and Wildlife Warden. An officer from Sutter County, whose K9 was killed, was involved in the incident but did not open fire.

Ramsey’s office is handling the investigation into the shooting.

The man was wanted for parole violations and was a suspect in an area double homicide about two years prior, Ramsey said.

“He (was) a very bad person,” Ramsey said. “He had a long record.”

The suspect had been wanted by law enforcement for about eight months.

It’s unclear how many rounds were fired, but Ramsey said the suspect was struck multiple times.

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, which is in the area as part of the wildfire response, is assisting in the investigation with specialized crime scene technology that was being used to find victims of the fire.

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The pursuit began after deputies confronted the suspects at the Pines Yankee Hill Hardware store in Yankee Hill. Officials said the man placed a hand in his jacket during the encounter, making deputies concerned he was armed.

During the man’s previous arrest, Ramsey said he was found with multiple weapons. This time, he was unarmed when shot.

Officers backed away and continued to yell at the suspect, who then raced out of the hardware store’s parking lot — hitting a law enforcement vehicle on the way — and drove off down Highway 70.

Law enforcement laid down a spike strip, which eventually stopped the car.

He got out and yelled “you guys should have left me alone,” at the pursuing officers. He added “I’m not going back,” according to Ramsey. Officers then released the Sutter County K9 on the man, who then advanced on officers, causing them to open fire.

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