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Suspect Killed By Police After Modesto Pursuit

MODESTO, Calif. (CBS13) -- A report of burglary ended in gunfire after two suspects led police on a chase through the city of Modesto late Saturday night, leaving one suspect dead and another seriously wounded.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department said Modesto officers received a call from a witness who spotted two suspects breaking into an auto body shop on the 600 block of North Franklin Street just after 11:00 p.m.

Officers arrived in minutes and found a pickup truck matching the description of the suspects' vehicle driving away from the scene. When police attempted to pull the vehicle over, the suspects refused to stop.

Authorities followed the suspects through Modesto and into an unincorporated part of Stanislaus County north of the city. The pickup truck eventually spun out of control and smashed into another compact car.

Police tried to corral the truck with their vehicles and take the suspects into custody, but the driver allegedly put the truck in reverse and accelerated directly at the officers. Four officers opened fire at the cab of the truck, striking both occupants repeatedly.

The male driver was fatally wounded by multiple gunshots. The female passenger was seriously wounded and was transported to the hospital.

A civilian driver suffered moderate injuries in the collision and was treated at a local hospital.

Police said they found a loaded gun inside the suspects' vehicle; both the gun and vehicle were reported stolen in Nevada last month.

Investigators believe the suspects were attempting to steal computer electronics from the auto body shop.

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