Hispanic San Bernardino Sheriff's Deputy Dies After Gunshot Chase

Dominic Vaca, from 43 years, he died allegedly from the wounds caused by the bullets of the suspect, who also died from the gunshots of the agents

Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP / Getty Images

A veteran San Bernardino sheriff’s deputy died Monday at the hospital after a pursuit at high speed that ended in a shootout. The motorcyclist they were chasing also died after allegedly shooting the officer.

Sgt Dominic Vaca, from 43 years, was shot after trying to stop traffic in Yucca Valley, a desert community located on the outskirts of Joshua Tree National Park.

“La gunshot wound he suffered today was too severe to get over it, ”Sheriff John McMahon said in a video posted shortly before midnight Monday.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sergeant Dominic Vaca. pic.twitter.com/VCqSX7YfhF

– San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) June 1, 2021

The chase began when officers saw a man driving a unmarked motorcycle near Paxton Road and Imperial Drive shortly after 12: 30 in the afternoon, according to the authorities. When they tried to stop him, the motorcyclist fled first on the motorcycle and then on foot . The agents chased him.

After abandoning his motorcycle, he ran into the desert near Dumosa Avenue and Sunnyslope Drive, according to official sources. When officers found him, he began shooting at them, according to McMahon. The motorcyclist died on the block 57000 from Crestview Drive due to the shooting by officers and Vaca was airlifted to a hospital.

Authorities identified the man who fled and who subsequently died as Bilal Winston Shabazz, a Lancaster resident of 29 years. According to this official account, there was a loaded gun near Shabazz’s body and the suspect was carrying two ammunition magazines.

Authorities say 29 – year-old Bilal Winston Shabazz was wanted on a no-bail warrant out of Lancaster when he killed San Bernardino County sheriff’s Sgt. Dominic Vaca during a police pursuit in Yucca Valley Monday. https://t.co/7MolBMM1Et pic.twitter.com/rxgGRoeAct

– CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) June 2, 2015

Shabazz had a Los Angeles County Bail Order , according to the San County Sheriff’s Department Bernardino, who did not elaborate on the order.

On Tuesday, police officers honored Vaca in a procession as they transported her body from Desert Regional Medical Center to the coroner’s office. [. Cow, carrying 17 years in the county police agency, had two 4-month-old daughters and 11 years.