Written By @cabbagepatchgrl
An unidentified white supremacist was shot and killed Thursday morning after he shot an officer in the leg.
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson spoke at a press conference saying that the suspect was shot dead in Templeton, California, after he ambushed deputies who were chasing him through a cemetery.
According to Parkinson, a sheriff deputy was driving on Theater Drive in the 3400 block at around 10:20 a.m. when he spotted a vehicle that was known to belong to a felon who was wanted by police. The deputy spotted the suspect 100 yards away from Templeton cemetery, after noticing the vehicle was vacant. The deputy turned the patrol car lights on and asked the man to stop. The suspect started fleeing towards the cemetery, and two deputies chased after him. The suspect then hid in the cemetery and ambushed the deputies as they got closer.
“The suspect shot multiple rounds at the deputies, striking at one deputy in the lower leg and the deputies returned fire,” Parkinson said.
The suspect then fled from the cemetery and back to his vehicle, where two additional deputies had pulled up after receiving the call about an officer being shot. The two deputies saw that the suspect was still armed, so they opened fire. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The suspect, in this case, is a convicted felon who had an outstanding felony warrant,” Parkinson said. “He has an extensive history of multiple weapons charges and is a member of a white supremacy gang.”
“He is known by us, he is wanted by us, and he was considered armed and dangerous,” he added.
According to Parkinson, more details surrounding the suspect’s name, what gang he was affiliated, and what he was wanted for will be released pending notification of next of kin.
The deputy who was shot by the suspect is currently in stable condition.
The suspect’s residence is currently being searched. The Major Crimes Unit of the Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol are investigating with the assistance of the SLO County District Attorney’s Office.