A carjacking suspect was shot and wounded Tuesday, June 18, during a confrontation with Riverside police officers just west of the downtown area.
The shooting occurred at about 10:30 a.m. in the 6600 block of Palm Avenue, near Central Avenue, according to the Riverside Police Department.
Officer Ryan Railsback told City News Service that two Problem-Oriented Policing unit officers were conducting a carjacking investigation and received word that the two suspects involved the alleged theft were on Palm.
“The officers had learned this was a potential place where the suspects hang out, and they happened to come across them there,” Railsback said.
He said that as the two lawmen approached the vehicle, the two alleged thieves — identified only as men in their 40s — were exiting the car, and “one of the suspects produced a firearm, at which point an officer-involved shooting occurred.”
The gunman was struck by the officer’s bullets, while his cohort was not hit, according to Railsback, adding that neither officer was injured.
The police officers’ identities were not released.
“The suspect was taken to a hospital, where he is in stable condition,” Railsback said.
The other man was taken into custody without incident.
Railsback said they would likely be booked on suspicion of carjacking, as well as possibly weapons allegations and, “depending on how the suspect’s firearm was used,” assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer or attempted murder of a peace officer.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
