Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting following chase

Sheriff's Department vehicles remained at the scene of an officer involved shooting this morning. Menifee 24/7 photos by Doug Spoon

Story updated with identity of the deceased suspect:

An adult male was killed in an officer-involved shooting Sunday morning in a rural area of southeast Menifee following a police pursuit of the suspect in a stolen vehicle, authorities said.

The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Ysidro Osornio-Velasquez of Menifee, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. He was pronounced dead at the scene where the chase ended -- the 32000 block of Garland Lane, a dirt road heading east off Menifee Road. A stretch of Menifee Road from Merjanian Road to Wickerd remained closed at 6:30 p.m.

The incident began about 3:50 a.m., when the suspect attempted a carjacking near Scott Road and Haun Road in southern Menifee, just west of the 215 Freeway. When the suspect brandished a weapon and attempted to take the vehicle, the victim fled the scene. As he left, the suspect shot at him. The victim was treated at a local hospital for his injuries.

At 4:48 a.m., deputies received a second carjacking report in the same area. In this incident, the suspect fled the location in the victim's white BMW sedan. The vehicle was later located in the city of Lake Elsinore. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, a pursuit began.

Sheriff's deputies received assistance from the Murrieta Police Department. Witnesses described seeing the chase head east on Scott Road back into Menifee. After turning north on Menifee Road, the suspect turned onto Garland Lane, where the shooting occurred.

Garland Lane is a dirt road that leads to just three residences east of Menifee Road before ending at an open field. After the suspect stopped the stolen vehicle, he produced a firearm and a deputy / officer-involved shooting occurred. No deputies, officers or citizens were injured. A K-9 from the Murrieta Police Deparment received a gunshot wound that is not considered life-threatening.

Theresa Sester, who lives in one of the residences on Garland Lane, told Menifee 24/7 she was awakened by sirens about 6:30 a.m.

"I heard multiple sirens racing somewhere, and then I heard the sirens cut short near my house," Sester said. "By 6:33, they had the suspect stopped on Garland. They were yelling for him to put his hands outside the car. There was a lot of commotion. They were yelling, 'We don't want to shoot you.'"

Sester said she could see part of the confrontation from her window but wasn't sure whether the suspect shouted anything back or had a weapon in his hand.

"About 6:35, the officers opened fire," Sester said. "I knew the driver wasn't getting up."

Sester spoke with deputies after the incident and spoke with her neighbor as well. She said she believes the suspect turned onto Garland Lane in an attempt to hide from officers.

"That person has nothing to do with this area," she said.

Sester said at 6:30 p.m. that she and her neighbors were not allowed to leave the property and no one was allowed in. The body remained on the ground near the vehicle.

The deputies and officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, according to the news release. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Central Homicide Investigator Paz at 951-955-2777 or Perris Sheriff's Station Investigator Salisbury at 951-210-1000.