Full Notification

**UPDATE **
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, February 17, 2021                1:42 a.m.
 
INCIDENT:    Failure to Yield/Attempt Murder of a Peace Officer/ Lethal Force Encounter
 
LOCATION: Peach Avenue/Catalpa Street, Hesperia
 
SUSPECT:    Hector Javier Puga, 32 years old, resident of Bellflower
 
VICTIMS:       Three California Highway Patrol Officers
                       One Deputy Sheriff
                       Adult male
                       Adult female
                       14-year-old male
                         
SUMMARY:
On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 1:42 a.m. California Highway Patrol Officers were in pursuit of a suspect wanted for shooting at occupants in a vehicle on Tuesday evening on the I-15. The suspect vehicle, a white Ford Expedition, exited the freeway at Bear Valley Road and CHP requested assistance from Hesperia deputies. The suspect continued driving at high speeds throughout city streets and struck a spike strip in the area of Bear Valley Road/Cottonwood Avenue, but the suspect continued driving and entered the southbound I-15. The suspect exited at Main Street and continued to flee from officers despite having one flattened tire. The suspect stopped in the area of Peach Avenue/Catalpa Street when the vehicle became disabled.
 
A high-risk traffic stop was conducted but the suspect refused to exit the vehicle. For more than an hour, officers and deputies negotiated with the suspect to safely exit the vehicle, but he continued to ignore their commands. Less than lethal methods were used in an attempt to gain compliance and resolve the situation, but they were unsuccessful. After more than an hour of negotiating, the suspect got out and ran to the front of the vehicle and began shooting at the officers, then ran while he continued to shoot at them. At this time, an officer involved shooting occurred and the suspect was struck. Medical aid responded, and the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. An adult female was also in the suspect vehicle and was not injured.
 
The suspect’s handgun was recovered at the scene and a photograph has been attached.
 
Moments after the shooting, a 911 caller reported three people at a nearby home were struck by gunfire. Medical aid responded to the home on Catalpa Street and found an adult male, adult female and a 14-year-old male with injuries. The victims were transported, and the female and 14-year-old remain hospitalized and are expected to recover from their injuries. The adult male was treated at a local hospital and released.
 
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division and California Highway Patrol are on scene conducting the investigation. No other details are being released at this time, updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
 
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information, or anyone who witnessed the incident, is asked to contact Detective Edward Hernandez, Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division at (909)387-3589. Callers can remain anonymous and contact WeTip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com.
 
 
Refer:             Detective Edward Hernandez or Sergeant A.J. Gibilterra
Station:          Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail
Phone No.     (909)387-3589
Case No.       DR192101044          H#2021-024
 
 
Refer:             Officer Mike Mumford, California Highway Patrol/Public Information Officer
Station:          Victorville
Phone:           (760)241-1186
  
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department