Pursuit Leads To Officer-Involved Shooting in Murrieta, Police Say [UPDATED]

MURRIETA, CA — A police shooting in Murrieta early Thursday morning was preceded by a pursuit in town, officials report. The case, which first unfolded at 1:37 a.m., prompted a temporary road closure in town, but authorities say the scene was cleared by 9 a.m.

According to Murrieta Police, the incident eventually brought authorities to the area of Kalmia Street, between Adams Avenue and Washington Street, around 4:30 a.m.

"The investigation is related to an officer involved shooting," police said on Facebook. "No Murrieta Police Department Officers were injured and the suspect is in custody."

Richard Gene Gates Jr., 41, of Lake Elsinore was ultimately arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, felony evading, resisting arrest and driving under the influence of a controlled substance. He's being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

According to Murrieta police Lt. Ron Driscoll, a patrolman spotted Gates driving in the area of Jackson Avenue and Oaks Road and noticed the suspect maneuvering erratically, as though impaired by alcohol or drugs.

The officer signaled Gates to stop, but he allegedly ignored the patrolman, at which point a chase ensued and other officers joined in, according to Driscoll.

"The vehicle drove to the end of Whitaker Way, and the driver maneuvered his vehicle in an attempt to flee the area," the lieutenant said. "It was during this time that an officer-involved shooting occurred."

Gates then managed to get around the patrol cars and head toward the intersection of Kalmia Street and Washington Avenue, where an officer had deployed a spike strip, which the suspect ran over, but sustained only minor damage to one or two tires, according to Driscoll.

He said that the suspect went east on Kalmia and attempted to negotiate a turn but went off the roadway. A patrol unit blocked the suspect from going any further, and officers converged on his vehicle, briefly struggling with Gates before taking him into custody, Driscoll said.

The suspect suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment before he was booked into jail. No officers were injured, Driscoll said.

The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation.

Kalmia Street was closed until just before 9 a.m., which affected traffic into Murrieta Elementary. However, the school was open all morning.

— City News Service contributed to this report.