In a tragic turn of events, a teen suspect wanted for murder in Iowa was shot and killed by law enforcement in Anaheim, California on Friday afternoon. The incident took place around 1:30 p.m. in an industrial park area on N. State College Boulevard and the 91 Freeway.
According to the Anaheim Police Department, officers were assisting a U.S. Marshal’s Task Force comprised of multiple agencies, including the California Department of Corrections and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Victor Delgadillo, was wanted for a murder in Marshalltown, located approximately 50 miles northeast of Des Moines.
The circumstances that led to the shooting are still unclear, but authorities stated that „Task Force personnel and Anaheim Police contacted the suspect, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.“ Both an Anaheim Police officer and other members of the Task Force discharged their weapons, resulting in the suspect being transported to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
During the altercation, a bystander was also struck by a bullet, although their injuries were not deemed serious. The individual was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment and was released shortly after.
Eyewitnesses to the incident described a chaotic scene, with one witness, Donovan Jimenez, recounting hearing between 15 to 20 gunshots. „I was eating lunch when I heard what sounded like a string of firecrackers going off,“ Jimenez said. „When I turned, I saw the officers basically firing at the suspect. We all kind of hurried to the door to see what was going on.“
It remains unclear how investigators tracked the suspect to Anaheim, but Marshalltown’s police chief mentioned that they had recently received information placing the suspect in Southern California. The incident is currently under investigation to determine the sequence of events leading up to the fatal shooting.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, it serves as a somber reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face in the line of duty. Our thoughts are with the families affected by this heartbreaking incident.
The Anaheim Police Department and the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force are working diligently to gather all pertinent information and ensure a thorough investigation is conducted. Updates on the case will be provided as they become available.
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