A gun battle unfolded on the streets of a Northern California metropolis this week that was captured in disturbing video — an incidence of violence {that a} police official likened to “an motion film” that no one needed to see occur in actuality.
The San José Police Division recognized the carjacking suspect on the middle of the incident, who shot and wounded an officer throughout a close-range gunfight earlier than he was mowed down by a police cruiser and fatally shot.
The gunfight marked the tip of the suspect’s violent four-day crime spree throughout two counties that included armed robberies, carjackings, automotive chases and police shootouts, stated San José Police Chief Paul Joseph at a information convention Thursday afternoon, a day after the incident.
Mohamed Husien, 30, of Davis, was killed after being struck by a police cruiser and fatally shot, police say.
(San José Police Division)
“It concerned at the very least six legislation enforcement companies, who pursued the suspect throughout a number of jurisdictions as he positioned numerous group members at risk as gun battles unfolded in a number of cities,” Joseph stated.
The police chief recognized the suspect as Mohamed Husien, 30, a resident of Davis. Husien was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
The shootout, captured on video by information helicopters and witnesses, erupted Wednesday afternoon after the suspect crashed his automotive close to Julian Avenue and Notre Dame Avenue, subsequent to the offramp of Freeway 87 and 7 blocks from Metropolis Corridor.
The movies shared on social media present the suspect dodging a police cruiser making an attempt to run him down earlier than opening fireplace on the officer and charging him.
Within the movies, the suspect fires his weapon from the rear of the police cruiser whereas the officer returns fireplace from the motive force’s seat earlier than exiting and retreating from the spot.
“The suspect continued to circle the [officer’s] patrol car whereas firing at him from solely toes away,” Joseph stated.
He stated the officer, who had not too long ago been promoted to sergeant, continued to fireside even after being struck by a bullet and bleeding from his head.
Dozens of commuters discovered themselves caught in the course of the gunfight, which ended when the armed suspect — attempting to carjack a car stopped on the street — was struck and run over by one other police cruiser.
Joseph stated the suspect continued to maneuver and was nonetheless armed with a firearm illegally geared up with an prolonged journal, prompting officers to fatally shoot him.
“This was a scene none of us ever needed to witness in actual life,” he stated. “It’s the form of footage individuals would possibly anticipate from an motion film, however this was not a film.”
Joseph stated a radical investigation could be carried out into the taking pictures and to find out the suspect’s motive. He stated investigators would additionally have a look at how Husein, a convicted felon, obtained the firearm utilized in Wednesday’s taking pictures.
He stated the police sergeant was anticipated to outlive his accidents.
Standing behind a picket podium, talking to a row of reports cameras and reporters, Joseph declined to reply questions on using a patrol car to finish the gun battle, citing an ongoing investigation.
“We all the time are hoping for a peaceable decision to each incident like this,” he advised reporters. “At each second of that car pursuit, the suspect had the choice of pulling over and surrendering.
“We used ways which are customary to attempt to get this individual into custody safely,” he added, ”and sadly that isn’t the result that we had.”
Joseph stated the taking pictures dropped at an finish a four-day crime spree throughout Sacramento, San Benito and Santa Clara counties.
He stated the crime spree started on Jan. 17 when the suspect stole a pink Corvette from a dealership in Sacramento. Later that day, he stated, he robbed a comfort retailer at gunpoint in one other metropolis, adopted by a second armed theft at a San José liquor retailer.
He stated the suspect dedicated three extra robberies the next day. At the least a type of was in San José.
Joseph stated the division bought a break Wednesday when a license plate reader flagged the situation of the Corvette, prompting a police response.
“San José officers positioned the car and engaged in a short pursuit,” he stated, “earlier than dropping the car and finding it unoccupied shortly thereafter.”
At 2:01 p.m. that day, San José police acquired a name about an armed carjacking at a dealership within the 900 block of Capital Expressway.
“The suspect brandished a firearm to an worker, stole a inexperienced Corvette and fled the scene,” Joseph stated.
Shortly after, he stated, a police helicopter noticed the car touring south outdoors of San José and continued following, offering real-time updates to native police companies.
Hollister cops and San Benito County sheriff’s deputies have been notified when the car entered their jurisdiction and tried to cease the car. However a slow-speed pursuit adopted that resulted in an officer-involved taking pictures.
“The suspect fled and was positioned once more the place a second officer-involved taking pictures occurred,” Joseph stated. He didn’t disclose the situation of the second taking pictures.
He stated the suspect’s car grew to become disabled, prompting him to carjack a passing car at gunpoint earlier than fleeing town of Hollister.
Joseph stated no officers or deputies have been injured within the officer-involved shootings.
“The suspect then fled northbound again in direction of San José. Officers from a number of companies pursued the suspect as he drove at excessive speeds on the freeway, endangering motorists whereas making an attempt to evade seize,” Joseph stated. “Because the suspect reentered our metropolis, San José police items assumed management of the pursuit on metropolis streets.”
He stated the suspect crashed right into a car that was stopped on the intersection the place the gun battle unfolded.
“I can’t think about the braveness it takes to run in direction of a state of affairs like that and never away from it, however thank God they ran towards it,” stated San José Vice Mayor Pam Foley. “We’re grateful for his or her service and for the sacrifices they and their households make, and we stand firmly in help of the San José Police Division and all of our first responders.”
San José Police Sgt. Steve Slack, president of the San José Police Assn., reward the actions of the injured officer.
“The unbelievable bravery exhibited by each officer, particularly the SJPD sergeant who was shot and hospitalized with a cranium fracture after confronting the damaging felony, was on full show yesterday,” he stated. “The injured sergeant is in good spirits, and we’re supporting him and his household in each approach we will.”
