Alameda County: 1 dead after struggle between law enforcement and alleged car thieves

ALAMEDA COUNTY — One man died and two others were injured early Monday morning after a struggle in which an alleged car thief attempted to disarm a law enforcement officer in unincorporated Alameda County, according to the county’s sheriff’s office.

In a news conference Monday morning, a spokesperson with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said a CHP officer was responding to a report of a stolen car out of Hayward that was found speeding on eastbound Interstate 580.

The officer was following the car when it exited on 164th Avenue and later crashed. Three suspects, all wearing ski masks, then left the vehicle on foot, according to the sheriff’s office.

An Alameda County sheriff’s deputy who responded to the call saw the CHP officer on their back, fighting two of the suspects. One of the suspects appeared to be attempting to disarm the officer, the sheriff’s office said.

“Shots were fired,” Lt. Tya Modeste said in the early morning news conference.

In an exchange of gunfire, one of the suspects was killed; the two others were placed into custody at about 2 a.m.

One suspect who fled the scene was located using drones, Modeste said.

Modeste confirmed that both sheriff’s deputies and the lone CHP officer on the scene shot their weapons during the exchange but it was unknown which officer killed the suspect. The CHP officer was injured in the scuffle but is expected to be OK.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.