Officer Involved Shooting Leaves Suspect Dead

Details are limited in what led to an early Thursday morning officer-involved shooting that has left one suspect dead and another in jail.

The scene unfolded beginning around 2 a.m. when Citrus Heights Police officers responded to the 8000 block of Debbie Ann Court to a report of a possible vehicle burglary in progress.

According to police, the caller reported a dark colored vehicle, occupied by two subjects in the neighborhood.

Police officials say a subject, wearing a hoodie, exited the vehicle and entered another vehicle located two houses away from the caller.

CHPD Sgt. Eric Mattke said it was still undetermined how the suspect entered the vehicle.

"It's really early in the investigation," Mattke said. "(Investigators) still have to get a search warrant so we could legally search the vehicle and finish processing the scene."

Mattke said the investigation will be slightly delayed until that search warrant is issued.

According to police, the caller did not recognize either subject or the vehicle and believed the suspects were committing a crime. Officers responded to the area in an effort to locate the suspects.

The first officer arrived and located one of the suspects at which point a confrontation ensued. Fearing for his safety, the officer shot the suspect.

Mattke was unable to give specific details related to the altercation.

"We will be interviewing the officer later today to get more information," Mattke said. "At that point we will be learning what information we can release and what we can't."

According to police, first aid was administered until Sacramento Metro Fire Department arrived; however, the suspect was pronounced deceased upon arrival at a nearby hospital.

Mattke did note more than one shot was fired at the suspect but could not say where the man was struck.

Officers located the second suspect nearby, in a vehicle, which, according to police, did not belong to the suspect.

"It did not belong to either of the suspects," Mattke said.

Mattke was unable to say who the car belonged to or whether the owner of the vehicle was known to either suspect.

The second suspect was arrested for attempted vehicle theft, according to police.

No officers were injured during this incident and there are no outstanding suspects. According to police, CHPD investigators are in the initial stages of the investigation and are processing the crime scene. The suspects’ identities are not being released at this time.

Mattke noted the officer involved in the shooting has no prior record of officer-involved shootings.

"He's a good guy," Mattke said. "It's unfortunate he was forced to do what he had to do."

Every officer involved shooting is investigated from different aspects, Mattke said. One is criminal and one is from the admisitrative standpoint to make sure all proper procedures were followed.