Deputies in Southern California fatally shot a high-speed pursuit suspect from a helicopter Friday after he drove the wrong way on a freeway at speeds of over 100 mph.
The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Fontana resident Nicholas Alan Johnson, who was wanted for a home invasion robbery the previous day.
The high-speed pursuit began when deputies tried to pull Johnson over, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy Oliva Bozek told BuzzFeed News. Johnson, however, refused to pull over, instead reaching speeds of more than 100 mph.
With patrol cars behind him and a helicopter above, Johnson sped through stop signs and red lights, sheriff's officials said.
The ensuing chase wound through the cities of Fontana and San Bernardino before the Johnson headed the wrong way on the northbound 215 Freeway.
According to a statement released by the sheriff's department, a deputy from the Aviation Division fired several times at the SUV from the helicopter.
At one point, Johnson jumped out of his moving SUV and fled on foot for a short time before collapsing on the ground.
The SUV, meanwhile, continued moving down the road, crashing into another vehicle, Bozek said. A man, woman, and 13-year-old boy inside were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.
The vehicle on the right is suspect vehicle. The one on the left belongs to the victims; all three went to hospital.
Authorities believe Johnson was hit by shots fired from the helicopter before collapsing.
Though rare, it is not the first time in Southern California that law enforcement has shot a suspect from a helicopter.
In June 2004, a man armed with a rifle and dressed in fatigues shot an employee of a recycling plant and an Orange County Sheriff's deputy. While authorities searched for the shooter in a rural area, the man opened fire at the helicopter and injured the pilot.
Another deputy inside the helicopter returned fire and killed the man.