SELMA, Calif. — A Selma police officer was shot and killed by a suspect in the line of duty in a residential neighborhood in the Fresno County city on Tuesday.
The fatal shooting occurred around 11:45 a.m. in the 2600 block of Pine Street, just west of Highway 99 and south of Rose Avenue.
The officer was rushed to the hospital but died there later, Selma Police Chief Rudy Alcaraz said in an update at the scene around 4:05 p.m.
The officer was not immediately identified out of a respect for privacy of the family, Alcaraz said.
Around 1:20 p.m. the sheriff’s office announced a person of interest had been detained. FCSO said there are are no outstanding suspects.
Sheriff John Zanoni at the afternoon update with Alcaraz said the suspect had been arrested. They were not immediately identified by Zanoni, but the sheriff noted the suspect had several prior felony arrests.
Alcarez said the incident began when the suspect flagged down the officer and then shot them several times before fleeing. The suspect was detained by FCSO deputies between noon and 12:15 p.m., and a gun was recovered, Zanoni said.
In addition to FCSO, law enforcement from the surrounding area — including the California Highway Patrol and police from Fresno, Kingsburg and Parlier — swarmed to the scene and established a perimeter around the location for the investigation.
About a block to the south of the scene, nearby Eric White Elementary School was locked down during the incident.
At 2:21 p.m. deputies said “families can pickup students at Eric White Elementary near Almond and Mitchell Streets. Mitchell Street between Fig and Rose is closed to pedestrians and motorists as our investigation continues.”
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
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