Deputies Pursue Home Invasion Suspect, High Speed Chase Ends in Suspect's Death

The I-215 was shut down for several hours last weekend after San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies were led on a high-speed chase through Fontana and San Bernardino that resulted in the death of an adult male suspect Friday, Sept. 18. Deputies from the Sheriff's Specialized Enforcement Division on Friday were attempting to take a home invasion robbery suspect into custody when a pursuit began that ended on the northbound I-215 freeway, deputies said. The home invasion, according to deputies, occurred in Devore on Thursday, Sept. 17. Deputies identified the suspect driving a beige Tahoe and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but a pursuit began Friday at approximately 12:49 p.m. after the suspect refused to stop, according to deputies. The pursuit continued through Fontana and San Bernardino and reached speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour, a news release issued by the Sheriff's department states, with the suspect running several stop signs and red lights. Police said the suspect then entered the northbound 215 freeway, traveling southbound into oncoming traffic. A deputy from the Sheriff's Aviation Division fired at the suspect's vehicle and struck it several times, a release states. The suspect then jumped out of the moving vehicle and ran a few yards before collapsing on the side of the roadway near Little League Drive, in the Muscoy area. The suspect's vehicle continued to move forward and collided with an uninvolved blue SUV, according to the release. Three occupants inside that unrelated vehicle, an adult male, an adult female and a 13-year-old boy, received injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment, the release states. The adult male and 13-year-old were treated and released from the hospital. The adult female remains hospitalized and is recovering from her injuries. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. The suspect was struck by gunfire prior to jumping out of the moving vehicle, deputies said in a news release. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of his death. Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division responded to the location and are conducting the investigation. The northbound freeway remained closed and was later reopened on Saturday, Sept. 19 at approximately 7:30 a.m. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Detective Chuck Phillips or Sergeant John Gaffney of the Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail at 909-387-3589. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.