Gunfire at California Border as CBP Confronts Suspect Fleeing Toward Mexico
Border Patrol officers at the San Ysidro port of entry opened fire after a grand theft suspect appeared to be attempting to flee into Mexico.
The suspect, who was wanted for grand theft auto, led Riverside County sheriff’s deputies on a 120-mile pursuit from Jurupa Valley to the Mexican border Wednesday evening. The chase began around 6:45 p.m. after the driver failed to stop for deputies and sped away.
The 120-mile pursuit ended just a few hundred feet from the border, where officers took the suspect into custody.
It was not immediately clear whether the suspect was injured.
Video from the border crossing shows several officers surrounding the vehicle and attempting to keep it from moving. When the driver pulled away, officers opened fire.
A witness at the scene reportedly saw the shooting and said helicopters could be heard in the area.
An ambulance and multiple law enforcement vehicles were seen at San Ysidro around 8 p.m., according to NBC San Diego. Caltrans reported that a traffic collision had blocked southbound I-5 lanes near Camino De La Plaza.
The incident forced the border crossing to close for nine hours. Customs and Border Protection urged travelers to use the Otay Mesa crossing instead.
The San Diego Police Department said the California Highway Patrol was leading the investigation.
Traffic has since resumed at the border, and the lane closure has been cleared.
The suspect’s identity and condition remain unknown.
