Deputy describes shootout with San Bernardino terror suspects

Rob McMillan Image
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Deputy describes shootout with San Bernardino terror suspects
The deputy who engaged in a fierce gun battle with the San Bernardino terror suspects is speaking out.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- The deputy who engaged in a fierce gun battle with the San Bernardino terror suspects is speaking out.

"The academy, they instill in us what we call the 'will to survive,'" said Deputy Shawn Wallen of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Wallen was involved in a chase with the suspects when Tashfeen Malik opened fire out of the back of the SUV.

"Blowing the glass out toward us, several times, and then sped off," Wallen said.

When they stopped, Wallen says Syed Farook got out, started running and opened fire.

Wallen thinks the gunfight lasted four minutes.

"I didn't think about anything except for staying alive and stopping him from hurting me or hurting anyone else," he said.

Wallen says it all happened so fast, he barely had time to think. In fact, it wasn't until he was taking a shower later that night that he realized he was actually wounded during the shootout -- shot in the thigh.