Police Identify Suspect Shot, Killed Saturday By Watsonville Officers

A suspect killed in a shooting with police in Watsonville had a criminal past including alleged death threats at an officer, police said.

Alejandro Campos Fernandez, 45, of Watsonville, was shot and killed by police along the Pajaro River levee on Saturday evening, Watsonville police Chief Manny Solano said during a news conference today at police headquarters.

One of two officers involved in the shooting was injured in the upper torso, treated at a hospital and released, police Lt. Saul Gonzalez said.

Fernandez allegedly had gang ties, multiple felony warrants for his arrest and possessed a rifle and a handgun, Gonzalez said. His criminal history includes an alleged assault with deadly weapons, making a death threat at a Watsonville police officer and robbing homeless people along the Pajaro River levee, Gonzalez said.

Around 3 p.m. Saturday, the Police Department’s swing shift patrol team was briefed on Fernandez’s criminal history, including a report on April 21 from a victim claiming the suspect brandished a rifle at him, Gonzalez said. The officers were warned that Fernandez was armed and potentially dangerous, the lieutenant said.

Shortly after 6 p.m., the officers set up surveillance near Fernandez’s home in the 100 block of West Front Street and saw him in his backyard heading toward the levee, Gonzalez said. The levee is located just north of the border between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

The officers were working to apprehend Fernandez by getting him away from the home where he would likely have access to firearms, Sgt. Eric Montalbo said.

Police found Fernandez on the levee heading east toward the riverbed, Gonzalez said. The officers briefly lost sight of Fernandez but spotted him on the other side of brush running down the levee and pursued him, according to Gonzalez. Two officers were following Fernandez from behind and three other officers were chasing Fernandez from his side in case he tried to escape from the levee, Gonzalez said.

Fernandez continually ignored the officers’ orders to stop, Gonzalez said. The chase continued into an area with heavy brush and multiple trails, he said. Fernandez entered a trail and one of the officers followed him, according to Gonzalez.

Fernandez was found kneeling with his firearm and shot at the officer, who was struck in the upper torso, Gonzalez said. A second officer came in and both officers exchanged gunfire with Fernandez, who eventually stopped shooting, Gonzalez said.

The injured officer was escorted back up the levee by the second officer and transported to Watsonville Community Hospital, Gonzalez said. The injured officer was in stable condition and has been released from the hospital, Montalbo said. The officer was wearing a bulletproof vest during the shooting which stopped the bullet and prevented him from suffering more severe injuries, according to Montalbo.

The officer still had his firearm in a holster when Fernandez shot him, Montalbo said.

The second officer was not injured in the shooting, Gonzalez said. For fear of their safety, the remaining officers stayed up the levee and yelled at the suspect, but they were unable to tell if the suspect was still a threat because they had a limited view of him, Gonzalez said.

The officers eventually went down to the trail and found Fernandez deceased, according to Gonzalez. At the trail investigators found Fernandez with two bags filled with a total of 50 extra rounds of ammunition, Montalbo said.

Firearms were also found at Fernandez’s home, including ones that met the criteria for an illegal weapon, Montalbo said.

The two officers who opened fire have been placed on paid administrative leave, Solano said.

“We will not be releasing the names of our officers that are involved at this time as we believe it will jeopardize their safety and the safety of their families,” Solano said.

Other local officials at today’s news conference included Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart, Assistant District Attorney Rob Wade and Watsonville City Councilman Felipe Hernandez. Watsonville police are conducting a joint investigation into the shooting with the Santa Cruz County district attorney’s and sheriff’s offices.

The city’s last officer-involved shooting was in 2011, when 22-year-old Robin Miranda was shot and killed by police inside a Big 5 Sporting Goods store, according to police. Miranda had been armed with a shotgun and allegedly attempted to steal a firearm from a display case while store was occupied, police said.

--Bay City News

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