Deputy and officer on leave after shootings with carjacking suspect

San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor said one of his deputies and a Hollister police officer have been placed on administrative leave after two shootings in the county involving an armed carjacking suspect. Hollister Police Chief Carlos Reynoso confirmed the information to KSBW 8.At around 2:37 p.m. near 900 Capitol Expressway in San Jose, an armed suspect entered a dealership and stole a green Corvette, leaving before officers arrived.Police said helicopters later helped track the suspect vehicle. A pursuit involving San Jose police then began and continued south to Hollister.Around 2:48 p.m., Hollister police and San Benito County deputies were alerted that an SJPD helicopter was tracking a vehicle linked to an armed carjacking in San Jose, according to Hollister police.Officers located the vehicle near Central Avenue and Miller Road around 2:56 p.m. and began a slow-speed pursuit. The chase ended near Buena Vista Road and Westside Boulevard, where the green Corvette became disabled for unknown reasons.The suspect then allegedly got out of the vehicle armed with a handgun. A shooting occurred, but it is unclear whether one or both sides fired.The suspect ran and was later located by San Benito County Sheriff’s Office deputies near Buena Vista Road and Line Street. Hollister police said another shooting occurred.”During this call, one of my deputy sheriffs engaged in a gunfight with a suspect who was actively trying to murder our deputy sheriff. That investigation is just beginning and is ongoing, and that deputy has been placed on administrative leave, as is customary for an officer-involved shooting,” said Sheriff Taylor. Taylor added that his deputy was not injured after many bullets were fired at him. After that confrontation, investigators said the suspect carjacked a second vehicle and drove north back toward San Jose.Back in San Jose, police said the suspect crashed into another vehicle near Julian Street and Highway 87, then got out and exchanged gunfire with officers.Sheriff Taylor said that the deputy was shot in the head. Authorities said the suspect then tried to steal another vehicle but was struck by a police vehicle and was declared dead at the scene.Not much is known about the suspect, but Sheriff Taylor said that the suspect was originally from Davis, California. See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

HOLLISTER, Calif. —

San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor said one of his deputies and a Hollister police officer have been placed on administrative leave after two shootings in the county involving an armed carjacking suspect. Hollister Police Chief Carlos Reynoso confirmed the information to KSBW 8.

At around 2:37 p.m. near 900 Capitol Expressway in San Jose, an armed suspect entered a dealership and stole a green Corvette, leaving before officers arrived.

Police said helicopters later helped track the suspect vehicle.

A pursuit involving San Jose police then began and continued south to Hollister.

Around 2:48 p.m., Hollister police and San Benito County deputies were alerted that an SJPD helicopter was tracking a vehicle linked to an armed carjacking in San Jose, according to Hollister police.

Officers located the vehicle near Central Avenue and Miller Road around 2:56 p.m. and began a slow-speed pursuit. The chase ended near Buena Vista Road and Westside Boulevard, where the green Corvette became disabled for unknown reasons.

The suspect then allegedly got out of the vehicle armed with a handgun. A shooting occurred, but it is unclear whether one or both sides fired.

The suspect ran and was later located by San Benito County Sheriff’s Office deputies near Buena Vista Road and Line Street. Hollister police said another shooting occurred.

“During this call, one of my deputy sheriffs engaged in a gunfight with a suspect who was actively trying to murder our deputy sheriff. That investigation is just beginning and is ongoing, and that deputy has been placed on administrative leave, as is customary for an officer-involved shooting,” said Sheriff Taylor.

Taylor added that his deputy was not injured after many bullets were fired at him.

After that confrontation, investigators said the suspect carjacked a second vehicle and drove north back toward San Jose.

Back in San Jose, police said the suspect crashed into another vehicle near Julian Street and Highway 87, then got out and exchanged gunfire with officers.

Sheriff Taylor said that the deputy was shot in the head.

Authorities said the suspect then tried to steal another vehicle but was struck by a police vehicle and was declared dead at the scene.

Not much is known about the suspect, but Sheriff Taylor said that the suspect was originally from Davis, California.

See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel