On Friday, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage of a gun battle, chase, and crash that ended in the death of an armed suspect and injuries to several deputies. According to officials, deputies responded to an armed man causing threats outside a nightclub in the area of Todd and Stony Point roads on March 4, who had been evicted from the club a day earlier. When they attempted to make contact with him, identified as 53-year-old Jose Luis Villasenor Cervantes, he opened fire with an AK-47-style rifle.
The police can be heard yelling at Cervantes to see his hands, but he responded by firing additional rounds as more deputies made their way to the scene. This event marked the beginning of several exchanges of gunfire during the confrontation, which is a rare occurrence in the county.
After the initial gunfire, Cervantes led the deputies on a chase that soon came to an end when he crashed his white sedan into a vacant sheriff’s cruiser at Stony Point Road and Butler Avenue. Deputy Nicholas Dellia tried to set up spike strips when Cervantes struck him accidentally with fellow Deputy James Blount’s car, causing major injuries to his head and burns on his back. The confrontation also left other deputies injured and their vehicles damaged.
According to Sonoma County Sheriff Eddie Engram, Cervantes fired more than 50 rounds, but fortunately, did not do more damage or cause more injuries. The police officers returned fire, ultimately causing Cervantes’ death.
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“It’s unbelievable that the deputies were able to prevent this bad actor from hurting anyone else in our community,” said Santa Rosa Police Lieutenant Christopher Mahurin. “We’re very grateful that more injury or damage wasn’t caused by this man’s actions.”
The incident is a testament to the bravery and preparedness of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, which was able to prevent further harm despite the attacker shooting more than 50 rounds from an assault-style rifle.
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