UPDATE @ 4:30 PM — During a 4:00 pm, press conference San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said Barstow deputies were dispatched to the area of Highway 395 and Highway 58 where the vehicle was seen. Arriving deputies encountered the suspect vehicle and a pursuit ensued. The suspect shot at deputies putting several rounds through the windshield of the patrol unit. The pursuit continued onto Highway 58 before entering the I-15 freeway, in the Lenwood area.
Officials said the suspect was firing at the deputies the entire time and even caused the second pursuing deputies vehicle to become disabled. The pursuit continued towards Victorville/Hesperia with the deputies taking fire from the suspect. The suspect went off-road as they approached the southwest corner of Main Street and the I-15. Deputies from several jurisdictions involved in the pursuit attempted to contain the suspect in the triangle that’s made by the offramp, the I-15, and the Main Street bridge.
Authorities said after the suspect vehicle came to rest a subject exited the passenger side of the vehicle wearing tactical gear. That subject started to run toward sheriff’s deputies and went down during the gunfire. As the deputies cleared the vehicle and rendered medical aid, they made contact with the subject wearing the tactical gear and determined it was the 15-year-old Juvenile. Graciano was shot dead in the driver’s seat of the car. Savannah was transported to a local hospital and at 11:52 am, she was pronounced deceased.
Sheriff’s officials said preliminary information indicates that the passenger of the vehicle identified as Savannah may have been also involved in some of the fire exchange. “There may be some information that the passenger was involved in firing back at the deputies and were still trying to confirm that at this point. “It is so early in this investigation. This is highly complex, it covers as you can imagine a number of miles coming out of Highway 58 and 395. All the way from the Barstow area coming back here. Very substantial investigation. Multiple scenes in terms of where these shootings occurred and ultimately ended up back here,” stated Sheriff Dicus.
Officials said a weapon described as an AR rifle was found inside the truck. When asked by a reporter if the person wearing the tactical gear had a weapon, the sheriff replied and said “at this time I don’t have that information I’m not sure were still reviewing the entire scene.” The sheriff also confirmed multiple patrol units were struck by gunfire and one deputy struck by shrapnel suffered minor injuries.
The sheriff said they will need at least 24 hours before additional information is released.
—original article—
HESPERIA, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A suspect wanted in a fatal Amber Alert was killed during a shootout with law enforcement Tuesday in Hesperia.
It happened at about 11:08 am, on September 27, 2022, on the southbound I-15 freeway and the Main Street on-ramp.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department tweeted around 11:23 a.m. that there was heavy police activity in Victorville on the 15 Freeway, between Bear Valley Rd and Joshua Rd. and that residents should avoid the area.
According to initial reports, a 911 caller reported a white truck matching the description of the suspect’s 2017 Nissan Frontier that was last seen driving on the I-15 freeway in Barstow. The suspect allegedly shot at responding deputies from the rearview window of the truck near Restaurant Row in Victorville and continued driving on the freeway.
The truck exited on Main Street where it went over the shoulder of the I-15 on-ramp and became disabled. Seconds later a gunbattle occurred and during the shootout, the suspect was shot and killed.
The 15-year-old victim identified as Savannah Graziano was also inside the truck and was wounded during the shootout. She was airlifted to a trauma center with life-threatening injuries.
The Fontana Police Department has confirmed that the person involved in the pursuit and shooting in Hesperia is the same murder suspect from the Amber Alert.
Anthony was wanted for the murder of Savanna’s mom after he shot and killed her near an elementary school on Cypress Avenue and Mallory Drive on September 26, 2022. He fled the scene with his daughter prompting the Amber Alert.
The investigation has prompted the California Highway Patrol to close the southbound I-15 freeway for an unknown amount of time. All traffic is being detoured onto Main Street. Roadways like Highway 395, Mariposa Road, and Amargosa Road are gridlocked.
The investigation is very active and ongoing. A press conference is scheduled for 3:00 pm where law enforcement is expected to release more information.
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