Fairfield Homicide Suspect Shot, Killed As I-80 Pursuit Ends Near Emeryville

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — Authorities say that a man who died Wednesday after a pursuit that ended in a standoff and officer-involved shooting on Interstate Highway 80 at Interstate Highway 580 near Emeryville was initially the target of a traffic stop in Fairfield.

Fairfield police detectives had tried to stop the man, who was a suspect in a homicide, at about 8:40 a.m., Fairfield police Sgt. Jeff Osgood said in a joint news release from the Fairfield Police Department, Richmond Police Department and Emeryville Police Department.

"During the event, the suspect failed to yield to the arrest and a pursuit ensued," Osgood said.

Richmond police responded to assist as the pursuit reached the East Bay and their jurisdiction.

California Highway Patrol officers also responded, using a spike strip on the suspect vehicle near University Avenue.

The chase ended at the I-80/I-580 interchange — near the border of Oakland and Emeryville — as the suspect's vehicle struck a concrete barrier and came to a stop west of Powell Street.

Police then engaged in a standoff with the driver while CHP officers provided traffic control for public safety.

"Officers negotiated with the suspect for an extended period of time until officers received gun fire from the suspect," Osgood said. "Officers on scene returned fire and the suspect was struck during the exchange. The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries."

The incident caused a complete closure of I-80 Wednesday morning.

• SEE PIEDMONT PATCH: I-80 At Standstill For Miles After Shooting

The deceased suspect's identity was not disclosed and details about the homicide he was wanted in connection with were not immediately provided Wednesday by Fairfield police.

The involved law enforcement agencies are cooperating in a multi-jurisdictional investigation of the incident, with Emeryville police handling the criminal investigation, Osgood said.

As the investigation continued Wednesday, westbound Highway 80 was closed from state Highway 4 to the Bay Bridge. At about 5 p.m., all lanes were reopened.

The eastbound lanes of Highway 80 in that area were reopened about two hours after the incident turned fatal, according to the CHP.

Drivers were advised to use alternate routes around the area and should expect delays.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo by Noah Berger/Associated Press