The fatal shooting occurred around 9:05 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The man was identified by the California Highway Patrol as Fernando Fierro.
The incident began around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, when CHP officers attempted a traffic stop on a white 2022 Kia SUV that was traveling at 132 mph on SR-14, but the driver (Fierro) failed to yield. During the chase, which occurred on multiple freeways and surface streets in Palmdale and Lancaster, Fierro called the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and said he had a gun and a child in the vehicle, and threatened to shoot at pursuing officers if they didn’t break away from the pursuit, according to a CHP report.
At about 12:42 a.m. Wednesday, Fierro fired shots at pursuing officers but no officers or vehicles were struck by the gunfire, according to the CHP report.
Fierro eventually came to a stop outside the Lido Estates mobile home park in the 2500 block of East Avenue I and exited the SUV while holding a gun and the infant, CHP officials said. He then backed slowly into a mobile home, beginning the standoff. The CHP contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which dispatched a SWAT team to the scene.
The standoff continued throughout the day on Wednesday and into the evening hours, as negotiators worked to take Fierro into custody and rescue the child.
“The suspect placed a gun to the child’s head while deputy personnel attempted to communicate with him, at which time a deputy involved shooting occurred,” the sheriff’s department said in a news release issued Thursday morning.
“The suspect was treated by medical personnel on scene and pronounced deceased. A firearm was recovered at the scene. The child was not injured during the incident,” the sheriff’s news release states.
Previous related story: Suspect barricaded with child in Lancaster mobile home park
Joe mama says
Good job Leo’s. His death saved tons of tax dollars.
Standoff says
Suicide by cop.
Poe says
I am lost…. the suspect put a gun to the child’s head, and then an officer involved shooting occurred? Did they shoot the suspect while he had a gun to the child’s head? Seems a bit risky to take that chance with a child’s life.
Fredsie says
Haven’t you seen Dirty Harry?
Leo says
Yes!! You are lost!
How about just being glad the child wasn’t murdered?
Tsparky says
Driving 132mph in an SUV with a one year old is already insanely reckless. Pointing a gun was the last straw and he showed he had no regard for the child’s life. If it was my child I’d applaud the officer that took the headshot.
Mike says
Oh I see Poe. You’re one of those naive folks who can’t believe the dad might have actually tried to shoot the kid in the head right, and the cops did their job before he could execute the poor child. Right…the cops are the risky ones. Not the deranged father who drove on a high speed chase and then used his own baby son as a hostage. Yea that’s totally normal.
Bob Dole says
Wait, a 2022 Kia SUV can do 132 MPH?!?
Ted Atmore says
Another day in the Antelope Valley
Nelly C says
They could of possibly killed the baby. It happened in L.A. years back. Sad!