I-80 reopens after suspect pursuit, shooting involving officers in Sacramento area
SACRAMENTO COUNTY - A suspect who led authorities on a pursuit in Sacramento County died after officers opened fire on the suspect on Interstate 80 Sunday afternoon, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.
At about 12:20 p.m., deputies and the California Highway Patrol were involved in a pursuit with a suspect heading east on I-80.
Deputies said the pursuit started on I-80 at the Madison Avenue exit when authorities attempted to pull the driver over for a traffic violation that happened at the Norwood Avenue exit.
The suspect took off east on I-80, which ended after the suspect hit a motorcyclist and exited the vehicle, a Toyota Prius, with a knife near the Greenback Lane exit, the sheriff's office said. This is when deputies said the officer-involved shooting happened.
The motorcyclist was rushed to the hospital and is in critical condition.
Since then, traffic has been backed up in the area. The roadway was reopened in the 10 p.m. hour.
"What's here right now won't be here once we leave," said Amar Ghandi, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office spokesperson. "So, you're right. Anything and everything that's important has to be preserved and collected right now."
"We know everybody's inconvenience, we know that it takes people more time now to drive through the area, but we have to do our due diligence with the investigation," said Mike Sedam, a CHP Captain.
The officers were not injured in the incident, according to deputies.
At the scene, investigators have been seen taking pictures of a knife that can be seen on the side of the road. A large number of investigators with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office and the CHP are at the scene.
Information about the suspect has not been released at this time.