CHP Officer Shot In Walnut Creek Dies
WALNUT CREEK (CBS13) - Kenyon Youngstrom, the CHP officer who was shot on Tuesday morning during a traffic stop on I-680 in Walnut Creek, has died, the CHP reports.
Youngstrom, who was a seven-year veteran of the CHP, was reportedly shot through the neck and had his spinal cord severed. He was a 37-year-old married father of four. The family lives in Cordelia, near Fairfield.
Gov. Jerry Brown said in a statement, "Anne and I extend our deep condolences to Officer Youngstrom's family, friends and colleagues as they mourn the tragic loss of this dedicated officer, father, husband, veteran and friend. Officer Youngstrom died protecting the community he served, and we are grateful to him for that. We will always remember his courage, commitment and service."
Flags at the capitol will be flown at half staff in honor of Youngstrom.
CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow also issued his condolences. He said, "This is a very sad day for the CHP as well as all Californians. Officer Youngstrom was a valued member of the CHP family, a dedicated officer and soldier who gave his life serving the people of California. He now joins a distinguished group of heroes whose names are engraved upon the CHP Memorial Fountain and who will forever be remembered for their valiant sacrifice and service."
The shooter, Christopher Boone Lacy, was shot and killed by a CHP officer on Tuesday at about 8:20 a.m. on I-680 near Walnut Creek after Lacy shot Youngstrom, who had approached his Jeep Wrangler after it was pulled over.
The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office said Lacy was from Corning but CBS13's Ron Jones learned Wednesday that Lacy lived in Rancho Tehema, 30 minutes west of Corning.
Youngstrom was responded to a deer on the side of the roadway when another officer noticed Lacy was driving with an obstructed license plate and pulled him over near where Youngstrom was stopped off the freeway shoulder.
Footage from a dashboard camera showed Officer Youngstrom speaking with Lacy briefly when, without provocation, Lacy pulled his gun and shot Youngstrom, said Sgt. Jimmy Lee of the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office.
The other CHP officer, who has not been identified, pulled up behind the Wrangler and returned fire on Lacy. He approached the passenger side of the Jeep, drew his own gun and fired numerous shots into it, fatally wounding Lacy, according to Lee, whose office is handling the investigation.
Inside the Jeep, detectives found a loaded semi-automatic handgun, two loaded magazines and a knife, Lee said.
A motive for the shooting remains unknown as investigators are still trying to develop a profile of Lacy, Lee said.
"We've been told he pretty much keeps to himself. He's a loner," Lee said.
Lacy had a prior drunken driving arrest in Marin County in 2006, Lee said. Beyond that, Lacy had no criminal record. He lived in the Marin County city of Sausalito from 2004 until last year and earned a master's degree in computer science from San Francisco State.
Lacy reportedly put down $28,000 on a plot of land in Rancho Tehama last year and lived in a mobile home there. The home is fenced off with a garden in the front.
A team of investigators late Tuesday served a search warrant at Lacy's home and seized six computers and several hard drives, Lee said.
Investigators also talked to Lacy's parents, who live in Oregon are expected to come to the area for questioning, Lee added.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
