CHP shooting injures two following pursuit

A man and woman were transported to Mercy Medical Center in Redding with injuries after a pursuit and shooting by California Highway Patrol officers on Tuesday, said Shasta County Sheriff's Lt. Dave Kent.

He said the pursuit started around 10 a.m. when a CHP patrol car attempted to make a traffic violation stop on a "lowered red older model pickup truck" on Main Street in Cottonwood.

"The pickup failed to yield and accelerated westbound onto Gas Point Road with the CHP unit in pursuit," said the lieutenant.

At one point during the pursuit, a CHP dispatcher said a firearm was seen in the pickup by the CHP officer.

Kent confirmed a handgun was "at or near the suspect vehicle" during the investigation.

A CHP dispatcher also said "shots fired," but Kent could not confirm whether those shots were from CHP officers.

"A shotgun was used by a CHP officer to shoot at the suspect vehicle," Kent said.

The pursuit ended on Carriage Lane near Happy Valley Road and Gas Point Road.

"I can say that two people from the pickup were injured and transported to a Redding hospital," Kent said. "There were two females and one male in the pickup. We detained one of the females in the pickup and have been able to get a statement from her."

He would not state whether the injuries were from the gun shots or "glass fragments" from the pickup.

"The male subject is still at the hospital under guard by the CHP," Kent said Tuesday evening. "We are waiting to take a statement from this subject, but due to his condition are unable to do so at this time. He is considered a person of interest."

No CHP officers were injured in the incident, Kent reported, but was unable to say whether or not any of the subjects in the pickup returned fire.

He did confirm that more than one CHP officer was involved in the incident.

Kent said the names of the officers involved and the man and women in the pickup are not being released at this time.

West Valley High School near the site of the shooting was placed under lock-down for a short time and then opened for students to be released from school.

The investigation is being handled as a multi-agency critical incident, Kent said.

"Shasta County Sheriff's Department is the lead investigation unit with assistance from the Anderson Police Department, the Shasta County District Attorney's Office and the CHP," he explained.