Video: Calif. Police Officer Faces Gun as Traffic Stop Turns Deadly

Body camera footage reveals how a traffic stop erupted when a suspect allegedly drew a gun on a Weed police officer on an on-ramp.

What to know

  • Newly released body camera footage shows a suspect pulling a handgun on a California police officer during a March 21 traffic stop on a Weed on-ramp, leading officers to open fire.
  • A search of the vehicle uncovered a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine hidden in a speaker box before the confrontation escalated.
  • The suspect was fatally shot and later died at a hospital; one police officer suffered minor injuries after falling, and the California Highway Patrol is investigating.

Recently released body camera footage shows a suspect pulling a gun on a California officer during a March traffic stop before he was fatally shot by police.

The shooting happened shortly after 6:30 p.m. March 21 when Weed police stopped a vehicle on an on-ramp for traffic violations, KDRV-TV reports. A K-9 drug unit was called in to help, along with a Mt. Shasta police officer. 

A search of the vehicle discovered a large amount of suspected methamphetamine that was inside a stereo speaker box. After the discovery, an officer walked over to the suspect, who was sitting in a cruiser's passenger seat.

That's when the suspect allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at the officer. Police opened fire, and the suspect was struck before being rushed to the hospital, where he later died.

An officer who fell during the shooting suffered minor injuries. No one else was injured.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. The Weed Police Department released body camera footage of the encounter Wednesday.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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