A sheriff's deputy was killed and two California Highway Patrol officers wounded Wednesday during a stolen vehicle investigation in Sacramento, authorities said.
Robert "Bob" French, a 21-year veteran with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, suffered a gunshot wound to his chest and died on the way to the hospital, Sheriff Scott Jones told reporters at the scene.
French was a "well-known, well respected training officer," the sheriff said. He is survived by his girlfriend, children, grandchildren and sister.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Auto Theft Task Force had launched an investigation into a stolen vehicle Wednesday morning and sent officers to a Ramada Inn, sheriff's spokesman Tony Turnbull told reporters.
The officers approached a hotel room and announced themselves. A man opened the door and began firing, striking the two CHP officers, Turnbull said.
Meanwhile, he said, sheriff's deputies surrounded the outside of the hotel when they saw the man go to a balcony.
There was an exchange of gunfire, and a deputy was struck, the sergeant said. The man then exited the balcony, hopped into a vehicle and led police on a pursuit, he said.
The man crashed the vehicle and there was another exchange of gunfire with deputies, Turnbull said. The man was shot and taken into custody, he said. He was later hospitalized.
The officers were also hospitalized, and were in "stable condition," Jones said.
Authorities were searching the area for any additional suspects, said Officer Chad Hertzell, spokesman for CHP's North Sacramento office.
