An armed suspect is in critical condition Thursday after he was shot after a pursuit by officers from a Riverside task force in Beaumont.
Officers from the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force were in the area of Whittier Avenue and Girard Street in Hemet at 7:16 p.m. Wednesday when they came in contact with a wanted felon who was inside of a vehicle and possibly armed with a handgun, said Riverside County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Deirdre Vickers. The suspect refused the officers commands to surrender and drove away at a high rate of speed.
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The officers attempted to stop the vehicle and a pursuit was began. They pursued the suspect through the Hemet area onto northbound Highway 79 and the suspect's vehicle became disabled in the area of Veile Avenue and Fourth Street in Beaumont, where the suspect ran from the vehicle, Vickers said. The officers chased the suspect on foot behind an industrial complex in the 500 block of B Street and during the pursuit, the suspect drew a handgun and officers shot the suspect.
Vickers said the suspect was struck by gunfire and officers rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived. The suspect was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
"The involved Hemet Police Officers and California Highway Patrol Officer assigned to the task force will be placed on paid administrative leave according to their agencies' policy," the sheriff's department said in a statement. "The names of the involved officers will not be released at this time."
An investigator from the county sheriff's office assigned to the Riverside County Force Investigations Detail will lead the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this shooting was asked to contact Riverside County Sheriff's Master Investigator Martin Alfaro or Riverside County District Attorney Investigator J.R. Ferrer at 951-955-2700.
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