Chase, deputy shooting prompt overnight closure of NB 15 Fwy in Cajon Pass; all lanes reopened
CAJON PASS, Calif. (KABC) -- Traffic was snarled on the 15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass for more than 14 hours Monday and Tuesday after a lengthy chase ended with sheriff's deputies shooting and wounding a suspect.
A Sig Alert was issued around 9:40 p.m. Monday and all lanes were not fully clear and reopened until 12:30 p.m. the next day, Caltrans says.
The pursuit began around 8:45 p.m. Monday after a report of an armed robbery at a home in Hesperia, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies performed multiple PIT maneuvers on the freeway in a short span toward the end of the pursuit, but the suspect continued to flee, eventually heading southbound on the 15 into Fontana and then turning around and heading back north.
The chase eventually came to an end on the 15 Freeway near Highway 138. That's when deputies opened fire.
"Deputies engaged with that subject, initially speaking with him, trying to negotiate with him to get out of the vehicle, come to a peaceful ending," said Mara Rodriguez, spokesperson for the sheriff's department. "Unfortunately a lethal force encounter occurred. That suspect was hit by gunfire, and was transported to the hospital where he remains right now."
Video from the scene showed evidence markers scattered across lanes and the front windshield of the suspect's vehicle riddled with bullet holes.
The suspect was identified as Robert Brown, 39. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive, according to the Sheriff's Department.
15 Freeway traffic
The incident snarled traffic on what is the major roadway connecting Las Vegas to Southern California.
Both directions of the freeway were briefly shut down overnight, but southbound lanes reopened just before 11 p.m. One lane on the northbound side was open to drivers Tuesday morning.
Drivers in the area were stuck in slow-moving traffic for hours.
"You're pretty much dead in the water here. They got one lane open, but from right here, you're two hours, three hours on what it's showing," said Brian Lee of Victorville.
All lanes were reopened as of 12:30 p.m., according to Caltrans.
