Calif. Department of Justice announces suspect in officer involved shooting on Highway 183
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The California Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it is continuing an investigation into an officer-involved shooting that happened on Highway 183 between Castroville and Salinas.
Last week, the DOJ announced the identification of the suspect as Jose Manuel Zamudio.
One week earlier, Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies along with other Monterey County Law Enforcement Agencies were made aware of an attempted murder investigation being conducted by the Salinas Police Department.
According to the Salinas Police Department, officers began their investigation around 9:30 a.m. at the Bankers Casino after calls of the suspect attempting to run over someone else. Information was broadcast to “be on the lookout” for the suspect and the suspect's vehicle, a blue Honda Prius.
Shortly after 1:00 p.m., a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer advised he had located the vehicle traveling between Salinas and Castroville on Highway 183. According to investigators, Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area to assist.
Officers and deputies attempted to stop the suspect vehicle which went off the road and into an agricultural field on Highway 183 between Espinosa Road and Cooper Road, investigators say. The driver exited the Prius and approached the officers while holding a weapon, according to the Sheriff’s office.
The Driver was shot at by multiple deputies killing him, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ.) This case was referred to the DOJ under AB 1506.
AB1506, states any officer-involved shooting (OIS) incidents resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian must be investigated by the DOJ. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect was armed. However, he was not armed with a weapon that is considered deadly under AB1506.
Driver killed in officer-involved shooting on Highway 183, Sheriff's Office says
The sheriff's office says law enforcement agencies were made aware of a vehicle that was associated with an attempted murder investigation out of Salinas.
The CHP saw the video traveling along Highway 183 and requested assistance, which the sheriff's office provided.
While conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle, it suddenly veered off the road into an agricultural field between Espinosa and Cooper roads.
The Sheriff's Office says the driver exited the vehicle and approached the officers who opened fire, striking the driver.
The driver died after being transported to a trauma center. One CHP officer was hurt in the aftermath.
The Department of Justice was handed the case "after learning that the driver had succumbed to their injuries and per protocols pursuant to AB 1506," the sheriff's office says.
A statement describing the DOJ's need to intervene in such cases reads "Pursuant to California Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), the California Department of Justice is required to investigate all incidents of an officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state. The California Department of Justice will investigate and review for potential criminal liability all such incidents."
The law enforcement officers involved in the shooting haven't been identified.
The DOJ was previously involved in the investigation of a July 2022 officer-involved shooting involving Salinas Police officers. Those officers were cleared of any charges in the death of Curtis Dale Barnett.