Suspect in critical condition after exchanging gunfire with Modesto police

An officer-involved shooting in downtown Modesto left a suspect in critical condition at a hospital, authorities said. The man, whose identity was not released, was shot by officers who returned fire after he shot at them, Modesto police reported.

At 11:23 p.m. Sunday, officers were responding to a report of an altercation near a string of taco trucks at Eighth and H streets and that some people involved were armed, Officer Billy Boyle said.

As officers approached, they saw a vehicle that matched one described in the 911 call. They attempted a traffic stop, but the driver sped off and officers pursued, Boyle said.

On Downey Avenue near 19th Street, officers used their vehicles to conduct a pursuit intervention technique and disabled the suspect vehicle, Boyle said.

One occupant in the vehicle got out and began to fire at officers, he said. Three officers returned fire. The man ran toward a neighborhood as he fired at the officers. He was shot and taken to a hospital, where he was in critical condition.

Two other occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody without incident or injury, Boyle said. He did not have information on charges they may face.

Multiple patrol vehicles were hit by bullets fired by the suspect, he said. Police did not know how many shots were fired.

Only the three officers returned fire, Boyle said, and no officers were injured. The three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation progresses – a standard procedure in officer-involved shootings, Boyle said.

He said the injured suspect and the two taken into custody all are men. The suspect’s firearm was recovered at the scene.

“From what I know, no other arrests were made at the altercation scene,” Boyle said.

Monday morning, the suspect vehicle remained on Downey Avenue, partially up on the curb and sidewalk, as police continued to investigate. Police vehicles involved in the pursuit, including a K9 Unit SUV that had its left front tire flattened, also were still sitting in the roadway. Police tape kept traffic off Downey.

Anyone with information about the case can email Boyle at boyleb@modestopd.com.

This story was originally published June 1, 2015 at 8:18 AM with the headline "Suspect in critical condition after exchanging gunfire with Modesto police."