1 Officer Dead, 2 Injured In Shooting On Riverside Freeway

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA) — One California Highway Patrol officer died and two others officers were injured following a shootout on a Riverside freeway Monday evening which left the suspect also dead.

According to Riverside police, a CHP officer made a traffic stop at around 5:37 p.m. — on the 215 Freeway in the area of Eastridge Avenue and Box Springs Boulevard — of a white GMC pick-up truck. The officer determined he was going to impound the vehicle, so he called a tow truck and was filling out paperwork when a male suspect entered the vehicle and pulled out an unknown-caliber rifle and began firing at the officer. The officer later died of his wounds.

Aerial views from SKY9 showed patrol cruisers with bullet holes and a white truck said to belong to the suspect.

The officer was struck by gunfire, but was able to broadcast a call for help. The first officers on the scene were two CHP officers who immediately engaged in gunfire with the suspect. The two officers were struck — one received major injuries and is in critical condition, the other with minor injuries. Multiple officers from Riverside Police Department and deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department arrived on scene and also began exchanging gunfire with the suspect.

Jennifer Moctezuma was driving in her car with her two young children when she said bullets started coming through her windshield.

"It hit straight in the middle of my windshield, missing my head and my two children that were in the backseat," Moctezuma said.

The man driving behind her, Charles Childruss, is a retired Marine who got out of his car and helped Moctezuma get her children to safety until gunfire stopped.

"It was a long and horrific gun battle," Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz said.

The slain officer, identified by Gov. Gavin Newsom as 34-year-old Officer Andre Moye, was taken to the coroner's office late Monday night.

"Jennifer and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and fellow officers grieving the tragic loss of Officer Moye, who will be remembered for his commitment to serving the Riverside County community and the people of California," Newsom said in a statement.

Officers said two civilians sustained very minor injuries and were treated then released.