CHP Officer Shoots Man near Los Alamos

A California Highway Patrol officer shot a man Sunday afternoon near Los Alamos after he made the officer fear for his safety, said a Sheriff’s Department spokesperson. The man, whose name has not been released, was hit several times and his condition is unknown.

According to Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Lt. Erik Rainy, authorities received a 9-1-1 call at around 3:45 p.m. from a woman who said she was the victim of domestic violence. She claimed she was driving with her boyfriend when he threatened her with a knife, saying he was going to harm her or himself. After they pinpointed her location to the Los Alamos area, Sheriff’s Department and CHP units were dispatched to look for the car.

Approximately 15 minutes later, the CHP officer involved in the shooting, with a Sheriff’s deputy following behind, located the vehicle on Highway 135, 2.5 miles west of Los Alamos. After the officer pulled behind the suspect’s car, the man got out and confronted the officer. “The suspect’s actions caused the officer to believe he was in eminent [sic] danger, and the Highway Patrol Officer fired at the suspect striking him several times,” said Rainy in a prepared statement, not offering any additional details on the confrontation

The man was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital. The female caller — along with her 2-year-old son who was also inside the car — were not injured. The Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident, explained Rainy in the press release, and is not releasing the names and ages of those involved at this time.