Wanted Man Shot By Stockton Police During Attempted Carjacking
STOCKTON (CBS13) - A wanted man who tried to flee from Stockton police on Wednesday was shot by an officer as he attempted a carjacking at a gas station, authorities said.
"Our officers fired at the suspect, don't know how many times he was hit, at least one time," said Stockton police Officer Joseph Silva.
The man, whose name wasn't immediately available, was wanted for felony DUI and injuring a California Highway Patrol officer in 2010. He was pulled over by a Stockton police officer Wednesday afternoon but reportedly fled across both directions of Interstate 5.
"For someone to run across the freeway like that, he's lucky he didn't get hit by a car," Stockton resident Alicia Villanuvea said.
From there, the suspect went down an embankment and made his way to an AM-PM gas station on Fremont Street and I-5 where officers caught up to him as he was reportedly trying to carjack a couple in an SUV.
Two officers fired at the suspect and he was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. His condition there wasn't available.
"As of now, it doesn't appear the suspect was armed, but it did appear to our officers he was in the commission of committing a felony," said Silva.
One of the attempted carjacking victims says the suspect yelled at police that he had a gun before he was shot.
Earlier this month, the Stockton office of the CHP sent out a notice seeking the public's help in locating Nathaniel Alexander Smith, wanted for a felony DUI traffic collision causing serious injury to two CHP officers in 2010 and for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Smith was sentenced to nine years in state prison but failed to surrender.
"He was a wanted felon. He had a no-bail warrant for his arrest," Silva said of the suspect. "Having him out in public was very dangerous for not only our officers, but for the citizens that were in this area."
Police haven't found a weapon yet; but due to the large crime scene, they are continuing to look for one.
Smith was taken to the hospital and is in critical condition.
