UPDATE: Female Suspect Identified, Male Suspect Identity Withheld
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A Sacramento police officer shot and killed a stolen-car suspect after a pursuit through the William Land Park area Friday morning.
At 9:50 a.m., police attempted to stop a stolen Toyota Camry out of Chico in the area of Broadway and 24th Street. The driver led officers on a high-speed chase through several residential neighborhoods, exceeding speeds of 70 mph. Officers soon cancelled the pursuit before the suspect drove through a crowded schoolyard and took out a chain-link fence.
Several minutes later, the vehicle was located unoccupied near 4th Avenue and Marty Way. Police saturated the area and officers spotted two suspects fleeing on foot. Female suspect Leslie McCulley, 28, was detained, but the male continued into the backyard of a house in the 1100 block of Robertson Way near Riverside Boulevard.
An officer and his K9 pursued the suspect into the backyard and shots were fired at about 10:30 a.m. The suspect shot the police dog, Bodie, in the face, shattering his jaw, and front paw and the officer returned fire, killing the man.
Not knowing if the man was dead or alive, medics weren't able to get to the suspect right away until a SWAT team cleared them to go in. He was pronounced dead at about 11:30. He was described as white, 33 years old and a Chico resident.
Bodie, a 4-year-old German shepherd, was taken to a the VCA Veterinary Referral Center for surgery. He'd lost a lot of blood, 3-4 liters, according to Dr. Robert Runyan. He said Bodie was in critical but stable condition and the next few days would be crucial for his survival.
The shooting shocked residents in the residential neighborhood.
"I heard 10 to 12 more, I realized it was gunfire," Jesse Roy said. "Immediately heard sirens coming down Riverside within two to three seconds. This all happened simultaneously. I walked outside to see what was going on and saw about six officers fly by."
"I'm not very happy to see this kind of excitement in my neighborhood," said Kelly Cooper, who lives a few blocks down from where the man was shot.
Nearby Crocker Riverside Elementary was placed on lockdown during the incident and homes in the area were also evacuated. Nearly 700 students at the K-6 were kept inside before the lockdown was lifted around noon and morning kindergarteners were released to their anxious parents.
"We received a call, a call that went out to all the parents of the students, that there was a protocol in place," parent Hillary Raffo said. "That made us feel very secure."
Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond was on scene at the school when the kids were released. "You never want to hear a report of a school in lockdown, but it does happen. We are in an urban area," he said. "At this point Sac PD came out quickly, responded, secured our school. We're really grateful for their work."
Afternoon kindergarten was cancelled, but the other students at the school returned to class. An evening fundraiser was expected to go on as scheduled.
Police blocked off streets in the area and Riverside was closed until about 2:30 p.m.
