Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
A suspect who led law enforcement on a vehicle chase from Rocklin to Sacramento County on Monday was shot by a bystander after getting out of the vehicle and running from the scene, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said.
The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment with non-life-threatening injuries, the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect was wanted in connection with attempting to rob Rocklin businesses over the weekend, Rocklin police said. The suspect smashed his car into a nail salon and a cell phone store on Commons Drive. Investigators said they did not find any items missing, so far.
On Monday, an officer in an unmarked Rocklin police car saw the suspect vehicle around 6:15 p.m. near Eureka Road and Interstate 80. A patrol unit responded to the scene and tried to pull over the suspect.
However, the suspect drove away, leading officers on a chase, police said.
The California Highway Patrol took over the chase, which entered Sacramento County.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said deputies then got involved, saying the suspect was seen, at one point, going westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-80 near Watt Avenue.
The chase eventually ended in the Foothill Farms area of Sacramento County when the suspect got out of the car and ran.
A homeowner who lives in the 4400 block of Belmont Place Lane shot the suspect, the sheriff’s office said. The homeowner and his wife were on their back patio. At some point, the homeowner said he feared for his life and shot the suspect.
“It's unclear at this time if the suspect had gained entry into the residence or if he attempted to gain entry or what the nature of that confrontation was with the homeowner,” Sacramento County sheriff’s Sgt. Tess Deterding said. “But we do know that the homeowner fired at the suspect, striking him and that he was transported to an area hospital.”
The sheriff’s office said it is too soon to determine whether the homeowner could face any charges. At this point, investigators believe the shooting was in self-defense.
No law enforcement officer fired their weapon, the sheriff’s office said. The homeowner was not injured.
Deputies detained a passenger who was in the car with the suspect, the sheriff's office said.
No other details were released.